The current Office Action replaces the previous non-final Office 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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on May 20, 2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-3,9,10-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al (PG Pub 2008/0106894 A1), Jung et al (PG Pub 2012/0056217 A1), and Lin et al (PG Pub 2011/0065241 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Kim teaches a light module, comprising: a substrate (1051, fig. 10) having a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of light emitters (1005) arranged on the first surface of the substrate and including a first light emitter, a second light emitter, and a third light emitter that are configured to emit lights having different peak wavelengths from one another (different colors, paragraph [0105]), the second light emitter disposed between the first light emitter and the third light emitter, and a protective layer (1017) disposed between the substrate and at least one of the plurality of light emitters.
Although Kim does not explicitly teach protective layer 1017 including a light-transmitting adhesive that is configured to transmit light emitted from the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter.
It would have been obvious to the skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make the protective layer to be light transmitting for the known benefit of allowing light emitted from the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter to be seen from outside the device of fig. 10. It also would have been obvious to the skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make the protective layer to be an adhesive for the known benefit of adhering to the light emitters to protect them from the environment.
Nonetheless, in the same field of endeavor, Lin teaches a protective layer (108, fig. 12A) including a light-transmitting adhesive (paragraphs [0244][0247]), for the benefit of protecting the light emitter from the environment such as moisture (paragraph [0244]).
Thus, it would have been obvious to the skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make the protective layer a light-transmitting adhesive that is configured to transmit light emitted from the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter, for the benefit of protecting the light emitter from the environment such as moisture.
Kim in view of Jung and Lin teaches “at least one of the first reflective region, the second reflective region, or the third reflective region is disposed between the adhesive layer and the substrate.”
Kim does not teach reflective regions.
In the same field of endeavor, Jung teaches reflective regions including a first reflective region (23 under 30b, figs. 1 and 2), a second reflective region (23 under 30a), and a third reflective region (23 under 30b), wherein the first reflective region located around the first light emitter, the second reflective region located around the second light emitter and extending outwardly (fig. 1) from the second light emitter, and the third reflective region located around the third light emitter, wherein the second reflective region is larger (fig. 1) than the first reflective region or the third reflective region, for the benefit of increasing light efficiency (paragraph [0017]).
Thus, it would have been obvious to the skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to include reflective regions including a first reflective region, a second reflective region, and a third reflective region, wherein the first reflective region located around the first light emitter, the second reflective region located around the second light emitter and extending outwardly from the second light emitter, and the third reflective region located around the third light emitter, wherein the second reflective region was larger than the first reflective region or the third reflective region, for the benefit of increasing light efficiency.
Regarding claim 2, Kim does not teach a light blocking layer disposed on the substrate.
Jung teaches a light blocking layer (R, fig. 5, paragraph [0077]) disposed on the substrate (1212), wherein: the light blocking layer includes one or more windows through which light can pass, for the known benefit of increasing light extraction.
Thus, it would have been obvious to the skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to include a light blocking layer disposed on the substrate, the light blocking layer included one or more windows through which light generated in the plurality of light emitters pass, for the known benefit of increasing light extraction.
Regarding claim 3, Kim teaches the light module of claim 2, further comprising: wherein the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter is attached to the adhesive layer (fig. 10).
Regarding claim 9, Kim teaches the light module of claim 1, wherein: the first light emitter, the second light emitter, and the third light emitter are configured to emit light of different colors from one another (paragraph [0105]), and the first light emitter, the second light emitter, and the third light emitter are arranged side by side (fig. 10).
Regarding claim 10, Kim in view of Jung and Lin teaches (see claim 1) a light module, comprising: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of light emitters disposed on the first surface of the substrate and including a first light emitter, a second light emitter, and a third light emitter that are configured to emit lights having different peak wavelengths from one another; an adhesive layer disposed between the substrate and at least one of the plurality of light emitters and including a light-transmitting adhesive that is configured to transmit light emitted from the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter; and reflective regions include a first reflective region surrounding the first light emitter, a second reflective region surrounding the second light emitter, a third reflective region surrounding the third light emitter, wherein at least one of the first reflective region, the second reflective region, or the third reflective region is disposed between the adhesive layer and the substrate, wherein the second reflective region has a different size from the first reflective region or the third reflective region.
Regarding claim 11, Kim does not teach a light blocking layer disposed on the substrate.
Jung teaches a light blocking layer (R, fig. 5, paragraph [0077]) disposed on the substrate (1212), wherein: the light blocking layer includes one or more windows through which light can pass, for the known benefit of increasing light extraction.
Thus, it would have been obvious to the skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to include a light blocking layer disposed on the substrate, the light blocking layer included one or more windows through which light generated in the plurality of light emitters pass, for the known benefit of increasing light extraction.
Regarding claim 12, Kim teaches the light module of claim 11, further comprising: wherein the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter is attached to the adhesive layer (fig. 10).
Claim(s) 4-7, 13, and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al (PG Pub 2008/0106894 A1), Jung et al (PG Pub 2012/0056217 A1), and Lin et al (PG Pub 2011/0065241 A1) as applied to claims 3 and 12 above, and further in view of Takeya et al (PG Pub 2019/0229097 A1).
Regarding claim 4, the previous combination remains as applied in claim 3.
The previous combination does not teach a step adjustment layer disposed on at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter.
In the same field of endeavor, Takeya teaches a step adjustment layer (31, fig. 24C; or 2021, fig. 29) disposed on at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter; and one or more connection layers (112/114; or 2122/2124) disposed on the step adjustment layer, wherein: the step adjustment layer includes a first set of openings exposing a region of the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter, and the one or more connection layers are electrically connected to the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter through the first set of openings of the step adjustment layer, for the known benefit of electrically insulating the two polarities of the light emitter.
Thus, it would have been obvious to the skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to dispose a step adjustment layer on at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter, and one or more connection layers on the step adjustment layer, wherein: the step adjustment layer included a first set of openings exposing a region of the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter, and the one or more connection layers were electrically connected to the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter through the first set of openings of the step adjustment layer, for the known benefit of electrically insulating the two polarities of the light emitter.
Regarding claim 5, Takeya teaches the light module of claim 4, further comprising: an insulation material layer (one of the plural layers in layer 31 or 2021, paragraph [0308]) covering the one or more connection layers.
It is well-known that each layer in a stack forming a Bragg reflector (31, fig. 24C, paragraph [0308]) covers the entire surface of the previous layer to affect reflective function. Thus, it would have been obvious that “wherein the insulation material layer covers side surfaces of the step adjustment layer and side surfaces of the one or more connection layers” in view of fig. 24C in Takeya.
Regarding claim 6, Kim does not teach each of the plurality of light emitters comprising: a light emitting layer including a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first conductivity type semiconductor layer and the second conductivity type semiconductor layer; and a first electrode pad and a second electrode pad disposed on the light emitting layer.
Takeya teaches each of the plurality of light emitters comprising: a light emitting layer including a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first conductivity type semiconductor layer and the second conductivity type semiconductor layer (2110,2112,2114, fig. 29B); for the known benefit of providing a light emitting diode to emit light, and a first electrode pad and a second electrode pad (907a and 907c, fig. 30B) disposed on the light emitting layer, for the known benefit of providing electrical bias to the diodes, wherein the first set of openings of the step adjustment layer expose the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad (fig. 30B).
Regarding claim 7, Kim does not teach the light module of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of light emitters further comprises an insulation layer disposed between the light emitting layer and the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad, and wherein the insulation layer includes a distributed Bragg reflector.
Takeya teaches an insulation layer (2120, fig. 29B) disposed between the light emitting layer and the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad, and wherein the insulation layer includes a distributed Bragg reflector (paragraph [0408]), for the known benefit of increasing light extraction.
Regarding claim 13, Kim in view of Takeya (see claim 4) teaches the light module of claim 12, further comprising: a step adjustment layer disposed on at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter; and one or more connection layers disposed on the step adjustment layer, wherein: the step adjustment layer includes a first set of openings exposing a region of the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter, and the one or more connection layers are electrically connected to the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter through the first set of openings of the step adjustment layer.
Regarding claim 14, Kim in view of Takeya (see claim 5) teaches the light module of claim 13, further comprising: an insulation layer covering the one of more connection layers, wherein the insulation layer covers side surfaces of the step adjustment layer and side surfaces of the one of more connection layers.
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al (PG Pub 2008/0106894 A1), Jung et al (PG Pub 2012/0056217 A1), Lin et al (PG Pub 2011/0065241 A1), and Takeya et al (PG Pub 2019/0229097 A1) as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Park et al (PG Pub 2021/039901 A1).
Regarding claim 8, the previous combination remains as applied in claim 7.
Kim further teaches the light module of claim 7 wherein: each of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, and the third light emitter correspond to one of red light emitting device, a green light emitting device, or a blue light emitting device (paragraph [0105]).
The previous combination does not teach the insulation layer of the blue light emitting device has a lower reflectance than those of insulation layers of the red light emitting device and the green light emitting device.
In the same field of endeavor, Park teaches the insulation layer of the blue light emitting device has a lower reflectance than those of insulation layers of the red light emitting device and the blue light emitting device, for the benefit of adjusting color mixing (paragraph [0156]).
Claim(s) 15,16,20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al (PG Pub 2008/0106894 A1), Jung et al (PG Pub 2012/0056217 A1), Lin et al (PG Pub 2011/0065241 A1), and Lee et al (PG Pub 2008/0087902 A1).
Regarding claim 15, Kim in view of Jung and Lin teaches (see claim 1) a lighting device, comprising: a circuit board (1007, fig. 10); and a plurality of light modules (1005, fig. 10) disposed on the circuit board, and each module including a first light emitter, a second light emitter, and a third light emitter that are configured to emit lights having different peak wavelengths from one another; an adhesive layer disposed between the substrate and at least one of the plurality of light emitters and including a light-transmitting adhesive that is configured to transmit light emitted from the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter; and reflective regions include a first reflective region, a second reflective region, and a third reflective region, wherein at least one of the first reflective region, the second reflective region, or the third reflective region is disposed between the adhesive layer and the substrate, wherein the first reflective region is disposed to extend from the first light emitter, the second reflective region is disposed to extend from the second light emitter, and the third reflective region is disposed to extend from the third light emitter, and wherein the second reflective region has a different size from the first reflective region or the third reflective region.
Kim does not teach each module to comprise a substrate.
In the same field of endeavor, Lee teaches each light module (fig. 12) comprising: a substrate (201) having a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of light emitters (in 70) disposed on the first surface of the substrate, for the known benefit of increasing heat dissipation from the emitters (paragraph [0115]).
Thus, it would have been obvious to the skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to include a substrate in each module for the known benefit of increasing heat dissipation from the emitters.
Regarding claim 16, Kim in view of Jung (see claim 2) teaches the lighting device of claim 15, further comprising: a light blocking layer disposed on the substrate, wherein: the light blocking layer includes one or more windows through which light generated in the plurality of light emitters pass.
Regarding claim 20, Kim teaches the lighting device of claim 15, wherein: the first light emitter, the second light emitter, and the third light emitter are configured to emit light of different colors from one another, and the first light emitter, the second light emitter, and the third light emitter are arranged side by side (paragraph [0105] and fig. 10).
Claim(s) 17-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al (PG Pub 2008/0106894 A1), Jung et al (PG Pub 2012/0056217 A1), Lin et al (PG Pub 2011/0065241 A1), and Lee et al (PG Pub 2008/0087902 A1) as applied to claim 15 above, and further in view of Takeya et al (PG Pub 2019/0229097 A1).
Regarding claim 17, Kim in view of Takeya (see claim 4) teaches the lighting device of claim 15, further comprising: a step adjustment layer disposed on at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter; and one or more connection layers disposed on the step adjustment layer, wherein: the step adjustment layer includes a first set of openings exposing a region of the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter, and the one or more connection layers are electrically connected to the at least one of the first light emitter, the second light emitter, or the third light emitter through the first set of openings of the step adjustment layer.
Regarding claim 18, Kim in view of Takeya (see claim 5) teaches the lighting device of claim 17, further comprising: an insulation layer covering the one of more connection layers, wherein the insulation layer covers side surfaces of the step adjustment layer and side surfaces of the one of more connection layers.
Regarding claim 19, Kim in view of Takeya (see claim 6) teaches the lighting device of claim 17, each of the plurality of light emitters comprising: a light emitting layer including a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first conductivity type semiconductor layer and the second conductivity type semiconductor layer; and a first electrode pad and a second electrode pad disposed on the light emitting layer, wherein the first set of openings of the step adjustment layer expose the first electrode pad and the second electrode pad.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed May 20, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive because the currently cited references teach the amended/added features. See rejection above.
Conclusion
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/FEIFEI YEUNG LOPEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2899
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