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
Acknowledgement is made of amendment filed on 14 April 2026 in which claim 10 is amended. Claims 1-16 are currently pending and an office action on the merits follows.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
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 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Pub. No. 2017/0005083 by Choi et al. (“Choi”).
As to claim 1, Choi discloses a display device (Choi, display device, Figures 3, 4A, and 4B) comprising:
a line (Choi, second line 116, Figure 4A) disposed on an upper surface of a substrate (Choi, A first insulating film 113 and a second insulating film 115 are arranged between the first line 112 and the second line 116. Figures 4A and 4B, ¶ [0064]); The substrate is the combined first insulating film 113 and second insulating film 115.
a driving unit disposed on a side surface of the substrate (Choi, The flexible circuit film 400 is attached to a side of the display panel, and the printed circuit board 500 is connected to the flexible circuit film 400. Figure 4A, ¶ [0054]); and
a connection part disposed in the substrate (Choi, The first line 112 and the second line 116 are electrically connected with each other through a first contact hole CNT1. Figure 4A, ¶ [0067]),
wherein the connection part includes a first connection part penetrating from the upper surface of the substrate to a lower surface of the substrate (Choi, The first line 112 and the second line 116 are electrically connected with each other through a first contact hole CNT1. Figure 4A, ¶ [0067]), and a second connection part protruding from the first connection part to the side surface of the substrate (Choi, the signal pad 110 is comprised of a multi-layer made of the first line 112 and the second line 116, whereby an area where the signal pad 110 is connected with the flexible circuit film 400 is increased. Figure 4A, ¶ [0073-0074]), and
the second connection part is in contact with the driving unit to be electrically connected with the driving unit at the side surface of the substrate (Choi, the signal pad 110 is comprised of a multi-layer made of the first line 112 and the second line 116, whereby an area where the signal pad 110 is connected with the flexible circuit film 400 is increased. Figure 4A, ¶ [0073-0074]).
As to claim 2, Choi discloses the display device wherein the first connection part includes:
a first region located in a same plane as the upper surface of the substrate (Choi, second line 116, Figures 4A and 4B), and
a second region located in a same plane as the lower surface of the substrate (Choi, first line 112, Figures 4A and 4B).
As to claim 3, Choi discloses the display device wherein the connection part includes a third connection part disposed on the upper surface of the substrate (Choi, second line 116, Figure 4A),
the third connection part is in contact with the first region of the first connection part (Choi, the signal pad 110 is comprised of a multi-layer made of the first line 112 and the second line 116, whereby an area where the signal pad 110 is connected with the flexible circuit film 400 is increased. Figure 4A, ¶ [0073-0074]), and
the line is in contact with the third connection part (Choi, The first line 112 and the second line 116 are electrically connected with each other through a first contact hole CNT1. Figure 4A, ¶ [0067]).
As to claim 4, Choi discloses the display device wherein an area of a lower surface of the third connection part (Choi, second line 116, Figure 4A) is larger than an area of the first region of the first connection part. As shown in figure 4A of Choi, the second line 116 has an area larger than the area of the first contact hole CNT1.
As to claim 5, Choi discloses the display device wherein the driving unit includes a first driving unit (Choi, first line 112, Figure 7A) disposed on the lower surface of the substrate (Choi, Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 together with FIGS. 7A and 7B, each of the plurality of signal pads 110 is formed in a multi-layer structure. In more detail, the signal pad 110 includes a first line 112, a second line 114, and a third line 116. Figures 7A-9, ¶ [0153]) and a second driving unit disposed on the side surface of the substrate (Choi, The flexible circuit film 400 is attached to a side of the display panel, and the printed circuit board 500 is connected to the flexible circuit film 400. Figure 7A, ¶ [0145]), The signal pads are part of a driving unit.
the first connection part is in contact with the first driving unit (Choi, the first line 112, the second line 114 and the third line 116 are electrically connected with one another through the first contact hole CN1 and the second contact hole CNT2. Figure 7A, ¶ [0158]), and
the second connection part is in contact with the second driving unit (Choi, the first line 112, the second line 114 and the third line 116 are electrically connected with one another through the first contact hole CN1 and the second contact hole CNT2. Figure 7A, ¶ [0158]).
As to claim 6, Choi discloses the display device wherein the line is electrically connected with both the first and second driving units (Choi, the first line 112, the second line 114 and the third line 116 are electrically connected with one another through the first contact hole CN1 and the second contact hole CNT2. Figure 7A, ¶ [0158]).
As to claim 7, Choi discloses the display device wherein the line includes an upper line disposed on the upper surface of the substrate (Choi, second line 116, Figure 4A) and a lower line disposed on the lower surface of the substrate (Choi, first line 112, Figure 4A),
the upper line is in contact with the third connection part (Choi, the signal pad 110 is comprised of a multi-layer made of the first line 112 and the second line 116, whereby an area where the signal pad 110 is connected with the flexible circuit film 400 is increased. Figure 4A, ¶ [0073]), and
the lower line is in contact with the second region of the first connection part (Choi, The first line 112 and the second line 116 are electrically connected with each other through a first contact hole CNT1. Figure 4A, ¶ [0067]) (Choi, the signal pad 110 is comprised of a multi-layer made of the first line 112 and the second line 116, whereby an area where the signal pad 110 is connected with the flexible circuit film 400 is increased. Figure 4A, ¶ [0073]).
As to claim 8, Choi discloses the display device wherein the driving unit is electrically connected with both the upper line and the lower line (Choi, the signal pad 110 is comprised of a multi-layer made of the first line 112 and the second line 116, whereby an area where the signal pad 110 is connected with the flexible circuit film 400 is increased. Figure 4A, ¶ [0073]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9 and 10 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
As to claim 9, Choi (U.S. Pub. No. 2017/0005083) does not expressly teach the display device further comprising:
an upper sub-pixel group composed of sub-pixels and disposed on the upper line; and
a lower sub-pixel group composed of sub-pixels and disposed on the lower line,
wherein each sub-pixel of the upper sub-pixel group and one sub-pixel of the lower sub-pixel group overlap each other.
Additional prior art of Liu (U.S. Pub. No. 2021/0098501) teaches a display device comprising:
an upper sub-pixel group composed of sub-pixels and disposed on the upper line (Liu, the display substrate includes a first substrate 1, a first sub-pixel layer 3 and a second sub-pixel layer 4 located on the first substrate 1, wherein the first sub-pixel layer 3 includes a plurality of first sub-pixels 31, the second sub-pixel layer 4 includes a plurality of second sub-pixels 41, Figure 1, ¶ [0031]); and
a lower sub-pixel group composed of sub-pixels and disposed on the lower line (Liu, the display substrate includes a first substrate 1, a first sub-pixel layer 3 and a second sub-pixel layer 4 located on the first substrate 1, wherein the first sub-pixel layer 3 includes a plurality of first sub-pixels 31, the second sub-pixel layer 4 includes a plurality of second sub-pixels 41, Figure 1, ¶ [0031]),
However, Choi and Liu does not expressly teach
wherein each sub-pixel of the upper sub-pixel group and one sub-pixel of the lower sub-pixel group overlap each other.
In addition, no other prior art was found which teaches, alone or in combination, the cited limitations.
As to dependent claim 10, this claim is objected to for the same reasons as claim 9 as claim 10 depends upon objected dependent claim 9.
Claims 11-16 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
As to claim 11, Choi (U.S. Pub. No. 2017/0005083) discloses a display device (Choi, display device, Figures 3, 7A, and 7B) comprising:
a plurality of lines (Choi, second line 114 and third line 116, Figure 7A) disposed on an upper surface of a substrate; As shown in figure 9 of Choi, the substrate is the combined first insulating film 113 and second insulating film 115.
a first driving unit (Choi, first line 112, Figure 7A) disposed on a lower surface of the substrate (Choi, Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 together with FIGS. 7A and 7B, each of the plurality of signal pads 110 is formed in a multi-layer structure. In more detail, the signal pad 110 includes a first line 112, a second line 114, and a third line 116. Figures 7A-9, ¶ [0153]); The signal pads are part of a driving unit.
a second driving unit disposed on a side surface of the substrate (Choi, The flexible circuit film 400 is attached to a side of the display panel, and the printed circuit board 500 is connected to the flexible circuit film 400. Figure 7A, ¶ [0145]); and
Choi does not expressly teach
a connection part disposed in the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of lines is electrically connected with one of the first and second driving units and is not electrically connected with the other of the first and second driving units by the connection part.
As shown in figure 7A of Choi, each of the first line 112, second line 114, and third line 116, are connected by the first and second contact holes, CNT1 and CNT2. Thus, Choi cannot reasonably teach that the plurality of line are not electrically connected to other driving units.
In addition, no other prior art was found which teaches, alone or in combination, the cited limitations.
As to dependent claims 12-16, these claims are allowable as they depend upon allowable independent claim 11.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 14 April 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant’s representative asserts in pages 1-3 of remarks, Choi does not teach the limitations in independent claim 1. Specifically, Choi does not teach “a connection part disposed in the substrate, wherein the connection part includes a first connection part penetrating from the upper surface of the substrate to a lower surface of the substrate, and a second connection part protruding from the first connection part to the side surface of the substrate,”. Choi teaches the first line 112 and second line 116 are disposed on the first substrate 100 and not in the substrate as required by the claim. The first and second line, of Choi, are disposed on the inside of the substrate.
The Office respectfully disagrees with this assertion as Choi does teach the cited limitations. In regards to the cited limitations “a connection part disposed in the substrate” the rejection above states the substrate is considered as the combined first insulating film 113 and the second insulating film 115. In addition, as shown in the rejection above, the connection part includes the first line 112, second line 116, and the first contact hole CNT1. As shown in figure 4B of Choi, the first line 112 is disposed inside the first insulating film 113. Thus, the connection part, which includes the first line 112, is within the substrate.
In regards to the cited limitations “wherein the connection part includes a first connection part penetrating from the upper surface of the substrate to a lower surface of the substrate, and a second connection part protruding from the first connection part to the side surface of the substrate” the first connection part is the first contact hole CNT1, of Choi, which penetrates the substrate, which is the first and second insulating films 113 and 115. Figure 4A of Choi shows the second connection part, the first line 112 of Choi, which protrudes from the first contact hold CNT1 to the side surface of the insulating films. Thus, Choi teaches all of the cited limitations.
Applicant’s representative asserts the claims are allowable and a notice of allowance should be sent.
The Office respectfully disagrees with this assertion and submits the rejection and response above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent No. 11,522,032 by Jeong teach a display device which includes a driving circuit portion which is placed on the bottom side of the substrate and connected to signal lines on the side surface.
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRENT D CASTIAUX whose telephone number is (571)272-5143. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 7:30 AM- 4:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chanh Nguyen can be reached at (571)272-7772. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRENT D CASTIAUX/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2623
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