Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/745,977

DISPLAY DEVICE

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
Jun 17, 2024
Priority
Jul 16, 2020 — RE 10-2020-0087975 +2 more
Examiner
AHMADI, MOHSEN
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
400 granted / 462 resolved
+26.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
487
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
74.4%
+34.4% vs TC avg
§102
14.4%
-25.6% vs TC avg
§112
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 462 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
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 . DETAILED ACTION This action is responsive to the application No. 18,745,977 filed on June 17, 2024. Priority Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file. Information Disclosure Statement Acknowledgment is made of Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) form PTO-1449. These IDS has been considered. Double Patenting A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957). A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101. Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claim 1 of prior U.S. Patent No. 12,016,211. This is a statutory double patenting rejection. Claims of Instant Application Claims of U.S. Patent 12,016,211 Explanation of Differences 1 1 ‘211 Claim 1 encompasses the claimed subject matter Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Kim (US Pub # 2005/0158925), Akimoto et al. (US Pub # 2010/0090217), Kwak et al. (US Pub # 2006/0043365), Kim et al. (US Pub # 2004/0056251), Kang et al. (US Pub # 2021/0320268), Sim et al. (U.S. Pub # 2017/0141169), Tanaka (U.S. Pub# 2014/0326994), Akimoto (U.S. Pat # 8,158,975) and Nagata (U.S. Pub # 2007/0235777). Kim discloses a display device (Fig. 1) comprising thin film transistor (TFT) array panel, wherein the thin film transistor (TFT) array panel comprising a substrate (110), a gate line (121) formed on the substrate and including a gate electrode (124), a first insulating layer (140) formed on the gate line (121), a semiconductor layer (151) formed on the first insulating layer (140), ohmic contacts (161, 165) formed on the semiconductor layer (151), source (173) and drain electrodes (175) formed on the ohmic contacts (161, 165) and disposed opposite each other with respect to the semiconductor layer (151), a second insulating layer (221) formed on the source and the drain electrodes (173, 175) and having a first contact hole (182 and 185) exposing a portion of the drain electrode (175) and an opening exposing the first portion of the semiconductor layer (151) and having an edge coinciding with edges of the source and the drain electrodes (175), a pixel electrode (190) formed on the second insulating layer (221). Akimoto discloses a semiconductor device (Fig. 1A) comprising: a gate insulating layer (102), a gate electrode layer (111) provided on one side of the gate insulating layer (102), an oxide semiconductor layer (113) provided on the other side of the gate insulating layer (102), and a source electrode layer (117a) and a drain electrode layer (117b), each comprising a first conductive layer (114a) including aluminum (0049) in contact with the gate insulating layer (102), a second conductive layer (114b) including a high-melting-point metal material over the first conductive layer (114a), and a barrier layer (1 16a), the barrier layer including aluminum oxide at an edge portion of the first conductive layer, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer (113) is in contact with the second conductive layer (114b) and the barrier layer (116a). Kwak discloses a display device comprising thin film transistor array panel, wherein the thin film transistor array panel comprising, a gate line (121), a first insulator (110) disposed on the gate line (121), a semiconductor (151) disposed on the first insulator (110), an ohmic contact (161) disposed on the semiconductor (151), a first conductor layer ((0023) disposed on the ohmic contact (161), a second conductor layer including a first portion disposed on the first conductor layer and a second portion contacting the ohmic contact, a second insulator (0023) disposed on the second conductor layer and having a contact hole exposing the second conductor layer at least in part and a pixel electrode (190) disposed on the second insulator and contacting the second conductor layer through the contact hole. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHSEN AHMADI whose telephone number is (571)272-5062. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00am-5:00pm. 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, William F Kraig can be reached at 571-272-8660. 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. /MOHSEN AHMADI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2896
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 17, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12685097
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEMICONDUCTOR-ON-INSULATOR SUBSTRATE FOR RADIOFREQUENCY APPLICATIONS
3y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12685228
SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE
2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12677605
REUSABLE TEMPLATES FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DESIGN AND FABRICATION
3y 6m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12672476
OPTO-ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH NANOPARTICLE DEPOSITED LAYERS
3y 2m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12672580
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE USING DOUBLE ADHESIVE LAYERS
2y 6m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+9.8%)
2y 3m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 462 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month