DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This office action is in response to applicant’s continuation application filed on 07/31/2024.
Currently claims 1-23 are pending in the application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 07/31/2024, 09/11/2024, 05/07/2025, 10/06/2025 and 04/23/2026 were filed before the mailing date of the office action. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements were considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 (b)
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claims 20-23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112 (b), as being indefinite for failing to particularly pointing out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regard as their invention.
Regarding claim 20, the claim recites that “electron transport properties of the first electron transport layer are greater than electron transport properties of the second electron transport layer.” The phrase “electron transport properties … are greater” is a relative term of degree for which the claim provides no standard of measurement. It is unclear which property (e.g., electron mobility, conductivity, current density, dopant concentration, or LUMO level) is being compared, and by what metric one layer is deemed “greater” than the other. A person of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the claim. See MPEP 2173.05(b). By contrast, independent claim 1 recites the concrete and definite limitation that “a concentration of a conductive material included in the first electron transport region is higher than a concentration of a conductive material included in the second electron transport region,” which is not indefinite.
Regarding claim 20, the claim introduces “one or more first stacks” and “one or more second stacks,” but subsequently recites “the first stack comprises a first hole transport layer …” and “the second stack comprises a second hole transport layer ….” The singular “the first stack” and “the second stack” lack proper antecedent basis. It is unclear whether these terms refer to each of the “one or more” stacks or to a single stack among them. Appropriate correction is required.
Regarding claims 21–23, the claims 21–23 depend from claim 20 and are rejected for the same reasons by virtue of their dependency. It is noted that claim 21 further recites that “a concentration of a conductive material included in the first electron transport layer is higher than a concentration of a conductive material included in the second electron transport layer”; incorporating this concrete limitation into base claim 20 (in place of the functional “electron transport properties … are greater” recitation) and correcting the antecedent-basis issues would overcome the 112(b) rejection.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-19 are allowed.
Claims 20–23 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth above and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is the examiner’s statement of reasons of allowance.
Independent claim 1 is allowable because the closest prior art US Patent Pub # US 2018/0138436 A1 to Takagi teaches,
a display device comprising:
PNG
media_image1.png
499
692
media_image1.png
Greyscale
an upper display substrate (as annotated on Fig. 2; [0025] – [0030]) comprising a first pixel region configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength region (as annotated on Fig. 2),
a second pixel region configured to emit a second light (as annotated on Fig. 2; [0025] – [0030]) having a second wavelength region different from the first wavelength region of the first light ([0026]), and
a third pixel region configured to emit a third light (as annotated on Fig. 2; [0025] – [0030]) having a third wavelength region different from the first wavelength region of the first light and the second wavelength region of the second light ([0026]); and
a lower display substrate (as annotated on Fig. 2; [0025] – [0030]) comprising a first light-emitting element disposed to overlap the first pixel region (as annotated on Fig. 2),
a second light-emitting element disposed to overlap the second pixel region (as annotated on Fig. 2), and
a third light-emitting element disposed to overlap the third pixel region (as annotated on Fig. 2), and
wherein the second light-emitting element comprises one or more first stacks configured to emit the second light (as annotated on Fig. 2), the one or more first stacks comprising a plurality of organic layers ([0026]),
the third light-emitting element comprises one or more second stacks configured to emit the third light (as annotated on Fig. 2), the one or more second stacks comprising a plurality of organic layers ([0026]),
PNG
media_image2.png
500
565
media_image2.png
Greyscale
the one or more first stacks comprise a first hole transport region, a first emission layer, and a first electron transport region (as annotated on Fig. 3A),
the one or more second stacks comprise a second hole transport region, a second emission layer, and a second electron transport region (as annotated on Fig. 3A).
However, neither Takagi nor any cited prior art, appear to explicitly disclose, in context, (i) a concentration of a conductive material included in the first electron transport region is higher than a concentration of a conductive material included in the second electron transport region; and (ii) at least one of the first emission layer and the second emission layer comprises a first compound represented by Formula E-1;
PNG
media_image3.png
382
288
media_image3.png
Greyscale
a second compound represented by Formula E-2a or Formula E-2b;
PNG
media_image4.png
354
436
media_image4.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image5.png
110
276
media_image5.png
Greyscale
a third compound represented by Formula M-a or Formula M-b; and
PNG
media_image6.png
284
434
media_image6.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image7.png
366
326
media_image7.png
Greyscale
a fourth compound represented by Formula F-a, Formula F-b, or Formula F-c.
PNG
media_image8.png
314
302
media_image8.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image9.png
216
468
media_image9.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image10.png
360
352
media_image10.png
Greyscale
Examiner’s Note: The prior art of record to the examiner’s knowledge does not teach or render obvious the instant invention, particularly characterized by the combination of “a concentration of a conductive material included in the first electron transport region is higher than a concentration of a conductive material included in the second electron transport region” and an emission layer that comprises “a first compound represented by Formula E-1; a second compound represented by Formula E-2a or Formula E-2b; a third compound represented by Formula M-a or Formula M-b; and a fourth compound represented by Formula F-a, Formula F-b, or Formula F-c.” Because no reference alone teaches all the limitations, nor is there any motivation to combine the prior arts to construct all the limitations of this independent claim, the claim is deemed patentable over the prior arts.
Specifically, the aforementioned combination - “a concentration of a conductive material included in the first electron transport region is higher than a concentration of a conductive material included in the second electron transport region” and an emission layer that comprises “a first compound represented by Formula E-1; a second compound represented by Formula E-2a or Formula E-2b; a third compound represented by Formula M-a or Formula M-b; and a fourth compound represented by Formula F-a, Formula F-b, or Formula F-c.” - is material to the inventive concept of the application at hand to achieve a display device with increased and improved lifespan and luminous efficiency and reduced driving voltage.
Independent claim 20 contains allowable subject matter.
Upon resolution of the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) above, claim 20 is allowable because the closest prior art US Patent Pub # US 2018/0138436 A1 to Takagi teaches, a display device comprising:
PNG
media_image1.png
499
692
media_image1.png
Greyscale
a base layer (102; first substrate; Fig. 2; [0020]) in which a first pixel region, a second pixel region, and a third pixel region are defined (as annotated on Fig. 2; [0025] – [0030]); and
a first light-emitting element disposed on the base layer (102) to overlap the first pixel region (as annotated on Fig. 2; [0025] – [0030]),
a second light-emitting element disposed on the base layer (102) to overlap the second pixel region (as annotated on Fig. 2; [0025] – [0030]), and
a third light-emitting element disposed on the base layer (102) to overlap the third pixel region (as annotated on Fig. 2; [0025] – [0030]), and
wherein the second light-emitting element comprises one or more first stacks (as annotated on Fig. 2) configured to emit a first color light ([0026]),
the third light-emitting element comprises one or more second stacks (as annotated on Fig. 2) configured to emit a second color light ([0026]),
PNG
media_image2.png
500
565
media_image2.png
Greyscale
the first stack comprises a first hole transport layer, a first emission layer configured to emit the first color light, and a first electron transport layer (as annotated on Fig. 3A),
the second stack comprises a second hole transport layer, a second emission layer configured to emit the second color light, and a second electron transport layer (as annotated on Fig. 3A).
However, neither Takagi nor any cited prior art, appear to explicitly disclose, in context, (i) electron transport properties of the first electron transport layer are greater than electron transport properties of the second electron transport layer; and (ii) at least one of the first emission layer and the second emission layer comprises a first compound represented by Formula E-1; a second compound represented by Formula E-2a or Formula E-2b; a third compound represented by Formula M-a or Formula M-b; and a fourth compound represented by Formula F-a, Formula F-b, or Formula F-c.
Examiner’s Note: The prior art of record to the examiner’s knowledge does not teach or render obvious the instant invention, particularly characterized by the combination of “electron transport properties of the first electron transport layer are greater than electron transport properties of the second electron transport layer” and an emission layer that comprises “a first compound represented by Formula E-1; a second compound represented by Formula E-2a or Formula E-2b; a third compound represented by Formula M-a or Formula M-b; and a fourth compound represented by Formula F-a, Formula F-b, or Formula F-c.” Because no reference alone teaches all the limitations, nor is there any motivation to combine the prior arts to construct all the limitations of this independent claim, the claim is deemed patentable over the prior arts.
Specifically, the aforementioned combination - “electron transport properties of the first electron transport layer are greater than electron transport properties of the second electron transport layer” and an emission layer that comprises “a first compound represented by Formula E-1; a second compound represented by Formula E-2a or Formula E-2b; a third compound represented by Formula M-a or Formula M-b; and a fourth compound represented by Formula F-a, Formula F-b, or Formula F-c.” - is material to the inventive concept of the application at hand to achieve a display device with increased and improved lifespan and luminous efficiency and reduced driving voltage.
Dependent claims 2–19 depend, directly or indirectly, on allowable independent claim 1, and are therefore also allowable. Dependent claims 21–23 depend on independent claim 20 and would likewise be allowable upon resolution of the 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejection set forth above.
Examiner’s Note (Additional Prior Arts)
The examiner included a few prior arts which are relevant to the disclosure.
US 2018/0158884 A1 (Lee) - An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device is provided. The OLED device includes a substrate, a first light emitting unit and a second light emitting unit. The first light emitting unit is disposed on the substrate. The first light emitting unit includes a first organic light emitting layer, a second organic light emitting layer and a first charge generation unit. The first charge generation unit is located between the first organic light emitting layer and the second organic light emitting layer. The first organic light emitting layer and the second organic light emitting layer are respectively in contact with a top surface and a bottom surface of the first charge generation unit. The second light emitting unit is disposed on the substrate. The second light emitting unit includes a third organic light emitting layer, and the second light emitting unit does not include a charge generation unit.
US 2019/0288239 A1 (Ichikawa) - A display device is disclosed including a first electrode, an inorganic hole injecting and transporting layer which is formed of an inorganic material and is formed on the first electrode, at least two light emitting units including a first organic light emitting unit and a second organic light emitting unit having different luminescent colors which are formed on the inorganic hole injecting and transporting layer, an electron transport layer which is formed on the at least two organic light emitting units, and a second electrode which is formed on the electron transport layer. Furthermore, a light emitting layer of the first organic light emitting unit is formed by laminating a light emitting layer of a first luminescent color and a light emitting layer of a second luminescent color, and a light emitting layer of the second organic light emitting unit is formed of the light emitting layer of the second luminescent color.
US 2017/0309859 A1 (Lee) - An organic light emitting diode and an organic light emitting display panel are provided. The organic light emitting diode including an anode disposed on a base layer; a first organic light emitting layer disposed on the anode; a cathode disposed on the first organic light emitting layer; and an electron control layer disposed between the first organic light emitting layer and the cathode, the electron control layer including ytterbium, wherein the cathode includes a first inorganic compound layer contacting the electron control layer to form a P-N junction with the electron control layer; and a conductive layer disposed on the first inorganic compound layer.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to S M SOHEL IMTIAZ whose telephone number is (408) 918-7566. The examiner can normally be reached on 8AM-5PM, M-F, PST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christine S. Kim can be reached at 571-272-8458. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/S M SOHEL IMTIAZ/Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 2812
07/31/2026
Prosecution Insights