DETAILED ACTION
Priority Claim
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
IDS
All references provided in the IDS have been considered.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: missing/inconsistent reference numerals.
In the specification, for example ¶ [0012] and [0013] mentions “a first pixel” and “a second pixel” but no such reference numerals are provided. As “first pixel” and “second pixel” are claimed elements, reference numerals in accordance with the drawings should be provided and used consistently throughout the specification. No new matter should be added.
In the specification, for example ¶ [0075] “a plurality of emission areas” is mentioned, but no reference numerals is provided. It is unclear which elements correspond to the plurality of emission areas. As “plurality of emission areas” is a claimed element, reference numerals should be provided in accordance with the drawings and used consistently throughout the specification.
In the specification, for example ¶ [0088] “light-emitting elements” appears to be missing the reference numeral. From ¶ [00129], it appears that “light-emitting elements” uses the reference numeral ‘ED’, however, in ¶ [00166] it appears that ‘ED’ is also used for light-emitting diode.
The examples provided above may not represent all instances of missing/inconsistent reference numerals. The applicant is reminded to check the specification to ensure consistency between the claimed elements, their reference numerals, and the drawings.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “first pixel” and “second pixel” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show “first pixel”, “second pixel”, as described in the specification. It is unclear from the drawings which is the first pixel and which is the second pixel. Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d).
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) 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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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 § 112
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 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Regarding Independent Claim 1,
Claim 1, lines 11 and 12 recite: “the light emitting element”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this as no “a light emitting element” has been claimed. It has been interpreted to mean “at least one of the light-emitting elements”. Claims 2-13 are rejected by virtue of their dependency on Claim 1.
Regarding Dependent Claim 2,
Claim 2, lines 1-2 recites: “the light-emitting element”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this as no “a light emitting element” has been claimed. It has been interpreted to mean “at least one of the light-emitting elements”. Claim 3 is rejected by virtue of its dependency on Claim 2.
Regarding Dependent Claim 4,
Claim 4, lines 4-5 recites “an opening overlapping with a respective emission area of the emission areas” and then lines 6-7 recite “connected to the opening of the pixel-defining layer..” it is best understood that “an opening overlapping with a respective emission area” refers to three different openings corresponding to each of the three emission areas. It therefore appears that a singular element is being used to describe a plurality. It is unclear if “the opening” then refers to one instance of the opening/emission area, or requires three separate instances of openings/emission areas. It has been interpreted to mean “at least an opening overlapping with an emission area…” and “connected to at least one opening of the pixel-defining layer..”. Claims 5-7 are rejected by virtue of their dependency on Claim 4.
Regarding Dependent Claim 6,
Claim 6, lines 1 recites: “the light-emitting element”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this as no “a light emitting element” has been claimed. It has been interpreted to mean “at least one of the light-emitting elements”. Claim 7 is rejected by virtue of its dependency on Claim 6.
Regarding Dependent Claim 7,
Claim 7, line 1 recites: “is disposed in the opening of the pixel-defining layer”. The structure associated with “the opening” cannot be precisely understood as the recitation of “an opening” in claim 4 , the claim from which this claim depends, is unclear. It has been interpreted to mean at least one or more openings.
Regarding Dependent Claim 10,
Claim 10, line 3 recites: “connected to the opening through the…”. The structure associated with “the opening” cannot be precisely understood as the recitation of “an opening” in claim 4 , the claim from which this claim depends, is unclear. It has been interpreted to mean at least one or more openings.
Regarding Dependent Claim 11,
Claim 11, line 4 recites “an opening overlapping with a respective emission area of the emission areas” and then line 5 recites: “connected to the opening of the pixel-defining layer..” it is best understood that “an opening overlapping with a respective emission area” refers to three different openings corresponding to each of the three emission areas. It therefore appears that a singular element is being used to describe a plurality. It is unclear if “the opening” then refers to one instance of the opening/emission area, or requires three separate instances of openings/emission areas. It has been interpreted to mean “at least an opening overlapping with an emission area…” and “connected to at least one opening of the pixel-defining layer..”. Claim 12 is rejected by virtue of its dependency on Claim 11.
Regarding Independent Claim 14,
Claim 14, lines 10 and 11 recite: “the light emitting element”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this as no “a light emitting element” has been claimed. It has been interpreted to mean “at least one of the light-emitting elements”. Claims 15-26 are rejected by virtue of their dependency on Claim 14.
Regarding Dependent Claim 15,
Claim 15, lines 1-2 recites: “the light-emitting element”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this as no “a light emitting element” has been claimed. It has been interpreted to mean “at least one of the light-emitting elements”. Claim 16 is rejected by virtue of its dependency on Claim 15.
Regarding Dependent Claim 17,
Claim 17, lines 4-5 recites “an opening overlapping with a respective emission area of the emission areas”. A singular structure associated with “an opening” cannot be understood. As written, it is unclear if this claim means “each of the first, second, and third emission areas comprise a first, second, and third opening, respectively” or “only one opening for all three emission areas.” It has been interpreted to mean at least one or more openings associated with the first, second, or third emission area. Claims 18-20 are rejected by virtue of their dependency on Claim 17.
Regarding Dependent Claim 19,
Claim 19, line 1 recites: “the light-emitting element”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this as no “a light emitting element” has been claimed. It has been interpreted to mean “at least one of the light-emitting elements”. Claim 20 is rejected by virtue of its dependency on Claim 19.
Regarding Dependent Claim 20,
Claim 20, line 2 recites: “is disposed in the opening of the pixel-defining layer”. The structure associated with “the opening” cannot be precisely understood as the recitation of “an opening” in claim 17, the claim from which this claim depends, is unclear. It has been interpreted to mean at least one or more openings.
Regarding Dependent Claim 23,
Claim 23, line 3 recites: “connected to the opening through…”. The structure associated with “the opening” cannot be precisely understood as the recitation of “an opening” in claim 17, the claim from which this claim depends, is unclear. It has been interpreted to mean at least one or more openings.
Regarding Dependent Claim 24,
Claim 24, lines 4-5 recites “an opening overlapping with a respective emission area of the emission areas”. A singular structure associated with “an opening” cannot be understood. As written, it is unclear if this claim means “each of the first, second, and third emission areas comprise a first, second, and third opening, respectively” or “only one opening for all three emission areas.” It has been interpreted to mean at least one or more openings associated with the first, second, or third emission area. Claim 25 is rejected by virtue of its dependency on Claim 24.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1-26 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US 20240122025 A1) in view of Lee (US 20240397803 A1).
Re: Independent Claim 1, Kim discloses:
A display device (Kim, display device; Fig. 5, element 10) comprising:
a first pixel (Kim, first pixel; Fig. 8, element PX1) and a second pixel (Kim, second pixel; Fig. 8, element PX2) spaced apart from each other,
wherein each of the first pixel and the second pixel comprises:
a plurality of emission areas (Kim, emission areas; Fig. 8, elements EA1, EA2, EA3, and EA4, collectively make up a plurality of light emission areas) where light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 15, element ED) are disposed (Kim, Fig. 15 shows the cross sections of the first pixel and second pixel and the light emitting element is disposed within the emission area, see also ¶ [0049] and ¶ [0127]);
a light-blocking layer (Kim, light blocking layer; Fig. 10, element BM), comprising a plurality of holes overlapping with the emission areas (Kim, Fig. 10 shows BM is discontinuous horizontally across, which can be considered a plurality of holes, corresponding to OPE1 and OPT1, OPE2 and OPT2, OPE3 and OPT3, which overlap EA1, EA3, and EA2), and disposed between adjacent ones of the emission areas (Kim, Fig. 10 shows BM between EA1, EA3, and EA2); and
a plurality of color filters (Kim, plurality of color filters; Fig. 9, elements CF1, CF2, CF3 and CF4) disposed in the holes of the light-blocking layer and overlapping with the emission areas (Kim, Figs. 10 and 15),
wherein the emission areas comprise first (Kim, emission area; Fig. 8, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) second (Kim, emission area; Fig. 8, element EA2, can be considered a second emission area), and third emission areas (Kim, emission area; Fig. 8, element EA3, can be considered a third emission area) spaced apart from one another, and
Kim does not explicitly disclose:
wherein the light-emitting element disposed in the first emission area of the first pixel is located at a lower level than the light-emitting element disposed in the first emission area of the second pixel.
Lee discloses:
wherein the light-emitting element (Lee, light emitting element; Fig. 9, element LED2) disposed in the first emission area of the first pixel (Lee, see annotated Fig. 9, can be considered the first pixel, and also see Fig. 4) is located at a lower level than the light-emitting element (Lee, light emitting element; Fig. 9, element LED3) disposed in the first emission area of the second pixel (Lee, see annotated Fig. 9, can be considered the second pixel, and also see Fig. 4).
Kim discloses a light-emitting element in the first emission area of the first pixel and a light emitting element in the in the first emission area of the second pixel, but does not explicitly disclose that the light emitting element disposed in the first emission area of the first pixel is lower than that of the light emitting element of the first emission area of the second pixel. Lee discloses the light-emitting element disposed in the first emission area of the first pixel is located at a lower level than the light-emitting element disposed in the first emission area of the second pixel for use in a display device. Kim and Lee disclose displays and their elements and configurations and are therefore analogous art. It would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) before the effective filing date to use in the light-emitting element layout (including the light blocking layer) of Lee in the device of Kim, for the benefit of changing/altering the amount of reflection by external light and lifespan of the light-emitting element (Kim, ¶ [0132]).
Re: Dependent Claim 2, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 1 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
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wherein a distance between the light-emitting element (Lee, light emitting element; Fig. 9, element LED2) disposed in the first emission area of the first pixel (Lee, see annotated Fig. 9, can be considered the first pixel, and the first emission area, and also see Fig. 4) and the light-blocking layer (Lee, light blocking layer; Fig. 9, element LBL) is greater than a distance between the light-emitting element (Lee, light emitting element; Fig. 9, element LED3) disposed in the first emission area of the second pixel (Lee, see annotated Fig. 9, can be considered the second pixel, and also see Fig. 4) and the light-blocking layer (Lee, Fig. 9 discloses that the distance d2 is greater than the distance, d3).
Re: Dependent Claim 3, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 2 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein the holes (Kim, Fig. 10 shows BM is discontinuous horizontally across, which can be considered a plurality of holes, corresponding to OPE1 and OPT1, OPE2 and OPT2, OPE3 and OPT3, which overlap EA1, EA3, and EA2) of the light-blocking layer (Kim, light blocking layer; Fig. 10, element BM) comprise first (Kim, hole; Fig. 10, element OPT1) second (Kim, hole; Fig. 10, element OPT2), and third holes (Kim, hole; Fig. 10, element OPT3) overlapping with the first (Kim, emission area; Fig. 8 element EA1, can be considered a first emission area), second (Kim, emission area; Fig. 8 element EA2, can be considered a second emission area), and third emission areas (Kim, emission area; Fig. 8 element EA3, can be considered a third emission area), respectively, and
Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
modifying the device intervals between the emission areas, openings, and holes of the light blocking layer (Kim, ¶ [0189]).
Kim, as modified by Lee, does not explicitly disclose:
wherein a width of the first hole of the first pixel is smaller than a width of the first hole of the second pixel.
Kim, as modified by Lee, does not explicitly disclose wherein a width of the first hole of the first pixel is smaller than a width of the first hole of the second pixel. Kim does disclose that the display device may be designed such that the intervals between the emission areas EA1, EA2, EA3, and EA4 or the openings OPE1, OPE2, OPE3, and OPE4 of the pixel defining layer PDL and the holes OPT1, OPT2, OPT3, and OPT4 of the light blocking layer BM reduce reflected light due to external light or allow a diffraction pattern due to the reflected light to be visually recognized as white (Kim, ¶ [0189]. In the absence of any unexpected results or criticality, it would be obvious to a POSITA before the effective filing date to modify a width of the first hole of the first pixel and a width of the first hole of the second pixel, such that the width of the first hole of the first pixel is smaller than the width of the first hole of the second pixel, arriving at the invention as claimed, without undue experimentation, for the predictable result of reduce reflected light (Kim, ¶ [0189]).
Re: Dependent Claim 4, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 1 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
further comprising:
a thin-film transistor layer (Kim, thin film transistor layer; Fig. 10, element TFTL, except elements PAS1, PAS2, can be considered the TFTL) configured to drive the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 15, element ED, ¶ [0087]);
a first protective film (Kim, first passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS1) disposed on the thin-film transistor layer; and
a pixel-defining layer (Kim, pixel defining layer; Fig. 10, element PDL) disposed on the first protective film and comprising an opening overlapping with a respective emission area of the emission areas (Kim, openings; Fig. 10, elements OPE1, OPE2, OPE3, correspond to an opening overlapping with a respective emission area, ¶ [0131], any of which can be considered an opening), and
wherein the first protective film further comprises a first connection opening connected to the opening of the pixel-defining layer in the first pixel (Kim, first pixel; Fig. 8, element PX1, see also Figs. 10 and 15, see attached annotated image, can be considered a first connection opening).
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Re: Dependent Claim 5, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 4 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein each of the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 10, element ED) comprises an emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10, element EL), and
wherein the emissive layer is disposed in the first connection opening in the first pixel (Kim, first pixel; Fig. 8, element PX1, see also Figs. 10 and 15).
Re: Dependent Claim 6, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 5 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein the light-emitting element (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element ED) in the second pixel (Kim, see Figs. 10 and 15) is disposed on the first protective film (Kim, first passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS1).
Re: Dependent Claim 7, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 6 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein the emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element EL) in the second pixel is disposed in the opening of the pixel-defining layer (Kim, pixel defining layer; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element PDL).
Re: Dependent Claim 8, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 4 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein each of the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 10, element ED) comprises a first electrode (Kim, pixel electrode; Fig. 10, element AE, can be considered a first electrode), an emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element EL) disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode (Kim, common electrode; Fig. 10, element CE, ¶ [0162]) disposed on the emissive layer (Kim, ¶ [0165]), and
wherein the second electrode covers an inner surface of the first connection opening in the first pixel (Kim, see Figs 10 and 15, see attached annotated image of claim 4).
Re: Dependent Claim 9, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 8 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
further comprising:
a thin-film encapsulation layer (Kim, encapsulation layer; Fig. 10, element TFEL) disposed on the second electrode (Kim, common electrode; Fig. 10, element CE, ¶ [0162]),
wherein at least a portion of the thin-film encapsulation layer is disposed in the first connection opening in the first pixel (Kim, annotated Fig. 10 (in Claim 4) shows a portion of the encapsulation layer, specifically TFE1, within the first connection opening).
Re: Dependent Claim 10, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 4 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
a second protective film (Kim, second passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS2) disposed between the first protective film (Kim, first passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS1) and the thin-film transistor layer (Kim, thin transistor layer; Fig. 10, element TFTL, except elements PAS1, PAS2, can be considered the TFTL),
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wherein the second protective film comprises a second connection opening connected to the opening through the first connection opening (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image labeled 2nd connection opening),
wherein each of the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 10, element ED) comprises an emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element EL), and
wherein the emissive layer is disposed in the second connection opening in the first pixel (Kim, first pixel; Fig. 8, element PX1, see also Figs. 10 and 15, see attached annotated image).
Re: Dependent Claim 11, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 1 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
a thin-film transistor layer (Kim, thin film transistor layer; Fig. 10, element TFTL, except elements PAS1, PAS2, can be considered the TFTL) configured to drive the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 15, element ED, ¶ [0087]);
a first protective film (Kim, second passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS2) disposed on the thin-film transistor layer; and
a pixel-defining layer (Kim, pixel defining area; Fig. 10, element PDL) disposed on the first protective film and comprising an opening overlapping with a respective emission area of the emission areas (Kim, openings; Fig. 10, elements OPE1, OPE2, OPE3, correspond to an opening overlapping with a respective emission area, ¶ [0131], any of OPE1, OPE2, OPE3 can be considered an opening), and,
wherein the first protective film comprises a valley (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image labeled valley) connected to the opening of the pixel-defining layer in the first pixel (Kim, first pixel; Fig. 8, element PX1, see also Figs. 10 and 15).
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Re: Dependent Claim 12, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 11 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein each of the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Figs. 10 and 15, element ED, ¶ [0087]) comprises an emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element EL), and
wherein the emissive layer is disposed in the valley in the first pixel (Kim, first pixel; Fig. 8, element PX1, see also Figs. 10 and 15).
Re: Dependent Claim 13, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 1 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein the color filters (Kim, plurality of color filters; Fig. 9, elements CF1, CF2, CF3 and CF4) comprise a first color filter (Kim, color filter; Fig. 10, element CF1) overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area), a second color filter (Kim, color filter; Fig. 10, element CF2) overlapping with the second emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA2, can be considered a second emission area), and a third color filter (Kim, color filter; Fig. 10, element CF3) overlapping with the third emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA3, can be considered a third emission area, see ¶ [0134]).
Re: Independent Claim 14, Kim discloses:
A display device (Kim, display device; Fig. 5, element 10) comprising:
a plurality of emission areas (Kim, emission areas; Fig. 8, elements EA1, EA2, EA3, and EA4, collectively make up a plurality of light emission areas) where light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 15, element ED) are disposed (Kim, Fig. 15 shows the cross sections of the first pixel and second pixel and the light emitting element is disposed within the emission area, see also ¶ [0049] and ¶ [0127]);
a light-blocking layer (Kim, light blocking layer; Fig. 10, element BM), comprising a plurality of holes overlapping with the emission areas (Kim, Fig. 10 shows BM is discontinuous horizontally across, which can be considered a plurality of holes, which align with elements OPT1, OPT2, OPT3, and OPE1, OPE2, OPE3, which overlap EA1, EA3, and EA2, see ¶ [0134]), and disposed between adjacent ones of the emission areas (Kim, Fig. 10 shows BM between EA1, EA3, and EA2); and
a plurality of color filters (Kim, plurality of color filters; Fig. 9, elements CF1, CF2, CF3 and CF4) disposed in the holes of the light-blocking layer and overlapping with the emission areas (Kim, Figs. 10 and 15),
wherein the emission areas comprise a first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) and a second emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA2, can be considered a second emission area) spaced apart from each other (Kim, ¶ [0127]),
Kim does not explicitly disclose:
wherein the first emission area and the second emission area emit light of a same color, and
Kim discloses:
colors of the emission areas depending on the light-emitting element (¶ [0127])
Kim discloses a first and second emission area but does not explicitly disclose that the first emission area and the second emission area emit light of a same color. Kim further discloses that the colors of the emission areas depend on the light-emitting elements and color filters (Kim, ¶ [0127] and ¶ [0135]). It would be obvious to a POSITA before the effective filing date to select the same light-emitting element and/or color filter for the first and second emission area, arriving at the invention as claimed, for the benefit of having a greater area with the same light (i.e. a more uniform glow of color for a general area).
Kim also does not disclose:
wherein the light-emitting element disposed in the first emission area is located lower than the light-emitting element disposed in the second emission area.
Lee discloses:
wherein the light-emitting element (Lee, light emitting element; Fig. 9, element LED2) disposed in the first emission area (Lee, Fig. 9, see annotated image, can be considered the first emission area) is located lower than the light-emitting element disposed in the second emission area.
Kim discloses a light-emitting element in the first emission area and a light emitting element in the in second emission area but does not explicitly disclose that the light emitting element disposed in the first emission area is located lower than that of the light emitting element of the second emission area. Lee discloses the light-emitting element disposed in the first emission area is located at a lower level than the light-emitting element disposed in the second emission area. Kim and Lee disclose displays and their elements and configurations and are therefore analogous art. It would be obvious to a POSITA before the effective filing date to use in the light-emitting element layout (including the light blocking layer) of Lee in the device of Kim, for the benefit of changing/altering the amount of reflection by external light and lifespan of the light-emitting element (Kim, ¶ [0132]).
Re: Dependent Claim 15, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 14 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein a distance between the light-emitting element (Lee, light emitting element; Fig. 9, element LED2) disposed in the first emission area (Lee, see attached annotated Fig. 9, labeled 1st emission area) and the light-blocking layer (Lee, light blocking layer; Fig. 9, element LBL) is greater than a distance between the light-emitting element disposed in the second emission area (Lee, see attached annotated figure labeled 2nd emission area) and the light-blocking layer (Lee, Fig. 9, distance d2 is longer than d3).
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Re: Dependent Claim 16, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 15 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein the holes (Kim, Fig. 10 shows BM is discontinuous horizontally across, which can be considered a plurality of holes, which align with elements OPT1, OPT2, OPT3, and OPE1, OPE2, OPE3, which overlap EA1, EA3, and EA2, see [¶0134]), in the light-blocking layer (Kim, light blocking layer; Fig. 10, element BM) comprise a first hole (Kim, hole; Fig. 10, element OPT1) overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 8 element EA1, can be considered a first emission area), and a second hole (Kim, hole; Fig. 10, element OPT2) overlapping with the emission area second (Kim, emission area; Fig. 8 element EA2, can be considered a second emission area)
Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
modifying the device intervals between the emission areas, openings, and holes of the light blocking layer (Kim, ¶ [0189]).
Kim, as modified by Lee, does not explicitly disclose:
wherein a width of the first hole is smaller than a width of the second hole.
Kim, as modified by Lee, does not explicitly disclose
wherein a width of the first hole is smaller than a width of the second hole. Kim does disclose that the display device may be designed such that the intervals between the emission areas (EA1, EA2, EA3, and EA4) or the openings (OPE1, OPE2, OPE3, and OPE4) of the pixel defining layer (PDL) and the holes (OPT1, OPT2, OPT3, and OPT4) of the light blocking layer (BM) reduce reflected light due to external light or allow a diffraction pattern due to the reflected light to be visually recognized as white (Kim, ¶ [0189]. In the absence of any unexpected results or criticality, it would be obvious to a POSITA before the effective filing date to modify a width of the first hole and a width of the second hole, such that the width of the first hole is smaller than the width of the second hole, arriving at the invention as claimed, without undue experimentation, for the predictable result of reduce reflected light (Kim, ¶ [0189]).
Re: Dependent Claim 17, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 14 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
a thin-film transistor layer (Kim, thin film transistor layer; Fig. 10, element TFTL, except elements PAS1, PAS2, can be considered the TFTL) configured to drive the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 15, element ED, ¶ [0087]);
a first protective film (Kim, first passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS1) disposed on the thin-film transistor layer; and
a pixel-defining layer (Kim, pixel defining layer; Fig. 10, element PDL) disposed on the first protective film and comprising an opening overlapping with a respective emission area of the emission areas (Kim, openings; Fig. 10, elements OPE1, OPE2, OPE3, correspond to an opening overlapping with a respective emission area, EA1, EA2, EA3, ¶ [0131]), and
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wherein the first protective film comprises a first connection opening (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image, labeled first connection opening can be considered a first connection opening) that is overlapping with the first emission area and is connected to the opening of the pixel-defining layer.
Re: Dependent Claim 18, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 17 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein each of the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 10, element ED) comprises an emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10, element EL), and
wherein the emissive layer overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) is disposed in the first connection opening (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image of Claim 17, labeled first connection opening can be considered a first connection opening).
Re: Dependent Claim 19, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 18 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein the light-emitting element (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 10, element ED) disposed in the second emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA2, can be considered a second emission area) is disposed on the first protective film (Kim, first passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS1).
Re: Dependent Claim 20, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 19 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein the emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10, element EL) overlapping with the second emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA2, can be considered a second emission area) is disposed in the opening of the pixel-defining layer (Kim, pixel defining layer; Fig. 10, element PDL, element EL is shown in the opening related to the second emission area, OPE2, which is one of the openings).
Re: Dependent Claim 21, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 17 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein each of the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 10, element ED) comprises a first electrode (Kim, pixel electrode; Fig. 10, element AE, can be considered a first electrode), an emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element EL) disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode (Kim, common electrode; Fig. 10, element CE, ¶ [0162]) disposed on the emissive layer (Kim, ¶ [0165]), and
wherein at least a part of the second electrode overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) covers an inner surface of the first connection opening (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image, labeled first connection opening can be considered a first connection opening).
Re: Dependent Claim 22, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 21 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
further comprising:
a thin-film encapsulation layer (Kim, encapsulation layer; Fig. 10, element TFEL) disposed on the second electrode (Kim, common electrode; Fig. 10, element CE, ¶ [0162]),
wherein at least a portion of the thin-film encapsulation layer overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) is disposed in the first connection opening (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image, labeled first connection opening can be considered a first connection opening).
Re: Dependent Claim 23, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 17 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
a second protective film (Kim, second passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS2) disposed between the first protective film (Kim, first passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS1) and the thin-film transistor layer (Kim, thin film transistor layer; Fig. 10, element TFTL, except elements PAS1, PAS2, can be considered the TFTL),
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wherein the second protective film comprises a second connection opening connected to the opening through the first connection opening (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image labeled 1st connection opening and 2nd connection opening),
wherein each of the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 10, element ED) comprises an emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element EL), and
wherein the emissive layer overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) is disposed in the second connection opening (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image labeled 2nd connection opening).
Re: Dependent Claim 24, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 14 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
a thin-film transistor layer (Kim, thin film transistor layer; Fig. 10, element TFTL, except elements PAS1, PAS2, can be considered the TFTL) configured to drive the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Fig. 15, element ED, ¶ [0087]);
a first protective film (Kim, second passivation layer; Fig. 10, element PAS2) disposed on the thin-film transistor layer; and
a pixel-defining layer (Kim, pixel defining area; Fig. 10, element PDL) disposed on the first protective film and comprising an opening overlapping with a respective emission area of the emission areas (Kim, openings; Fig. 10, elements OPE1, OPE2, OPE3, correspond to an opening overlapping with a respective emission area, ¶ [0131], any of OPE1, OPE2, OPE3 can be considered an opening), and,
wherein the first protective film comprises a valley (Kim, Fig. 10, see attached annotated image labeled valley) that is overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) and is connected to the opening of the pixel-defining layer.
Re: Dependent Claim 25, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 24 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein each of the light-emitting elements (Kim, light emitting element; Figs. 10 and 15, element ED, ¶ [0087]) comprises an emissive layer (Kim, light emitting layer; Fig. 10 and Fig. 15, element EL), and
wherein the emissive layer overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) is disposed in the valley (Kim, Fig.
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10, see attached annotated image labeled valley).
Re: Dependent Claim 26, Kim and Lee discloses all the limitations of claim 14 on which this claim depends. Kim, as modified by Lee, further discloses:
wherein the color filters (Kim, plurality of color filters; Fig. 9, elements CF1, CF2, CF3 and CF4) comprise a first color filter Kim, color filter; Fig. 10, element CF1) overlapping with the first emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA1, can be considered a first emission area) and a second color filter (Kim, color filter; Fig. 10, element CF2) overlapping with the second emission area (Kim, emission area; Fig. 10, element EA2, can be considered a second emission area), and
wherein the first color filter and the second color filter transmit light of a same color.
Prior art made of record and not relied upon are considered pertinent to current application disclosure.
Park (US 20240381698 A1), Hwang (US 20240357872 A1), Bae (US 20240138196 A1), and Sim (US 20200075634 A1) disclose display devices including light-emitting elements, pixels, and their configurations and are therefore considered relevant prior art.
Conclusion
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/NIMARTA KAUR CHOWDHARY/ Examiner, Art Unit 2898
/Leonard Chang/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2898
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