DETAILED ACTION
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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Huang et al., US 2021/0222291.
Claims 1, 8, 17: Huang discloses a deposition apparatus, comprising:
A deposition chamber (600) (Fig. 6);
A mask assembly (601) disposed in the deposition chamber, including:
A mask (104) [0020];
A mask frame (102) having a frame body that supports the mask (Fig. 1A);
A deposition source (636) that ejects a deposition material to the mask assembly [0038];
An insulating layer (125) that blocks energy from being transmitted to the frame body [0025].
Lastly, the examiner observes that Huang’s insulating layer, alumina, can be applied in situ via the deposition apparatus, i.e., the operator can feed the appropriate precursors to the apparatus and then disperse the alumina coating through the showerhead to form an insulating layer on the mask frame. This can be repeated a twice, where the second coating may be designated as the “absorption layer.” It has been held that claims directed to an apparatus must be distinguished from the prior art in terms of structure rather than function (In re Danly, 263 F.2d 844, 847, 120 USPQ 528, 531 (CCPA 1959)). In this case, the claimed insulating and absorption layers are functional artifacts of an intended mode of operation, whereby, so long as the apparatus evidences the capacity to form the aforementioned layers, the threshold for rejection is satisfied. Said differently, Huang’s apparatus can be used in a way to generate all of the features recited by Applicant’s independent claims, whereby this demonstration of capacity is sufficient for rejection.
Claims 2, 10, 18: As shown by Figure 1A, Huang’s frame body includes an opening which receives the mask.
Claims 3, 11, 19: Huang’s insulation material may be aluminum oxide, which is a ceramic [0025].
Claims 4, 12, 20: The operator can regulate the coating process to derive the claimed outcome of an absorption layer that is thinner than the frame body.
Claims 5, 13: Huang’s absorption layer contain aluminum [0025].
Claims 6-7: The insulating layer can be applied to the inner and outer side surfaces of Huang’s mask frame.
Claims 9, 15-16: Huang’s operator can control the apparatus to apply two additional layers, where these layers may be respectively titled second insulating layer and second absorption layer.
Claim 14: The operator can regulate the coating process to derive the claimed outcome of a second absorption layer that is thinner than the mask.
Conclusion
The following prior art is made of record as being pertinent to Applicant's disclosure, yet is not formally relied upon: Ha, US 2017/0148990. Ha discloses a deposition chamber (130), a mask assembly (105) including a mask (120) and frame (110), and a deposition source (170) (Fig. 3).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHAN K FORD whose telephone number is (571)270-1880. The examiner can normally be reached on 11-7:30 PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Parviz Hassanzadeh, can be reached at 571 272 1435. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571 273 8300.
/N. K. F./
Examiner, Art Unit 1716
/KARLA A MOORE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1716
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