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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/24/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention I and Species A1, B1, and C1 (claims 1-5 and 8) in the reply filed on 09/18/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 6-7 and 9-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention/species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 09/18/2026.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: LS2 (fig. 7). Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
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.
Claims 1-5 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Heo et al. (US Publication 9570471).
Regarding independent claim 1, Heo teaches a display device (fig. 2, 200) comprising:
a first electrode (250 and 252) on a substrate (210);
a pixel defining layer (270 and 274) on the first electrode;
a separation layer (280 and 282) on the pixel defining layer and having a void (w2) and an opening (see figure below) partially exposing the void;
a light emitting unit (260 and 262) on the first electrode and the separation layer, the light emitting unit being separated at the opening in the separation layer (fig. 2); and
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a second electrode (290 and 292) on the light emitting unit and covering the opening in the separation layer (fig. 2, extends over opening in separation layer).
Regarding dependent claim 2, Heo teaches the display device of claim 1, further comprising a conductive layer (fig. 2, 254) on the pixel defining layer.
Regarding dependent claim 3, Heo teaches the display device of claim 2, wherein the separation layer at least partially surrounds the conductive layer (fig. 2).
Regarding dependent claim 4, Heo teaches the display device of claim 2, wherein the conductive layer is in the void (fig. 2).
Regarding dependent claim 5, Heo teaches the display device of claim 4, wherein the separation layer comprises an inorganic material (column 9, ln. 23-29).
Regarding dependent claim 8, Heo teaches the display device of claim 4, wherein the substrate comprises a first sub-pixel (fig. 2, SP1) and a second sub-pixel (SP2) adjacent to each other, and wherein the separation layer is at a boundary between the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel (fig. 2).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GRACE Y CHA whose telephone number is (703)756-5393. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and every other Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jacob Choi can be reached at (469) 295-9060. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GRACE CHA/Examiner, Art Unit 2897
/JACOB Y CHOI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2897
