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 .
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.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the scope of Claim 1 of the instant application is entirely overlapped by Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent. In particular, Claim 1 of the instant application is merely a broader representation of Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent.
Claim 1 of Instant Application
Claim 1 of U.S. 12,333,999
A display device comprising:
a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel disposed along a first direction;
light emitting elements located in first to third pixels;
a color conversion layer located on the light emitting elements;
a light blocking layer located on the color conversion layer; and
a planarization layer located between the color conversion layer and the light blocking layer,
wherein a thickness of the planarization layer of the first pixel in a second direction intersecting the first direction is thicker than a thickness of the planarization layer of the second pixel in the second direction,
wherein a first separation distance between an upper surface of the color conversion layer of the first pixel and the light blocking layer of the first pixel in the second direction is greater than a second separation distance between an upper surface of the color conversion layer of the second pixel and the light blocking layer of the second pixel in the second direction, and
wherein the second separation distance is greater than a third separation distance between an upper surface of the color conversion layer of the third pixel and the light blocking layer of the third pixel in the second direction.
A display device comprising:
a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel disposed along a first direction;
light emitting elements located in first to third pixels;
a color conversion layer located on the light emitting elements;
a light blocking layer located on the color conversion layer;
a planarization layer located between the color conversion layer and the light blocking layer; and
an optical layer between the color conversion layer and the light blocking layer,
wherein a thickness of the planarization layer of the first pixel in a second direction intersecting the first direction is thicker than a thickness of the planarization layer of the second pixel in the second direction,
a thickness of the optical layer of each of the first pixel, the second pixel, and the third pixel in the second direction is different than a thickness of the optical layer of each of others of the first pixel, the second pixel, and the third pixel in the second direction,
a first separation distance between an upper surface of the color conversion layer of the first pixel and the light blocking layer of the first pixel in the second direction is greater than a second separation distance between an upper surface of the color conversion layer of the second pixel and the light blocking layer of the second pixel in the second direction, and
the second separation distance is greater than a third separation distance between an upper surface of the color conversion layer of the third pixel and the light blocking layer of the third pixel in the second direction.
As can be seen in comparing Claim 1 of the instant application with Claim 1 of U.S. 12,333,999, Claim 1 of the instant application recites the same structural and/or functional features as Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent. The only difference between Claim 1 of the instant application and Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent is that Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent additionally recites the claimed “optical layer between the color conversion layer and the light blocking layer” wherein “a thickness of the optical layer of each of the first pixel, the second pixel, and the third pixel in the second direction is different than a thickness of the optical layer of each of others of the first pixel, the second pixel, and the third pixel in the second direction.” However, Claim 1 of the instant application does not necessarily exclude additional, unrecited elements and/or features. In this regard, there is no patentable distinction between Claim 1 of the instant application and Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent, as the scope of Claim 1 of the instant application is entirely encompassed by the scope of Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent.
Claims 2-6 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999 in view of Kim et al. (hereinafter “Kim” US 2021 / 0109400).
(It should be noted that the Kim reference was submitted by the applicant via Information Disclosure Statement on 13 June 2025).
The scope of Claim 1 of the instant application is entirely overlapped by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999 (see above rejection).
Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent does not recite the features of Claim 2 of the instant application wherein “the thickness of the planarization layer of the second pixel is thicker than a thickness of the planarization of the third pixel.”
However, in the same field of endeavor, Kim discloses (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 9) a display device (10; see Page 3, Para. [0049]-[0052] and Page 6, Para. [0096]) comprising: a first pixel (see (PA3) in Fig. 2 and (PX3) in Fig. 9), a second pixel (see (PA1) in Fig. 2 and (PX1) in Fig. 9), and a third pixel (see (PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX2) in Fig. 9) disposed along a first direction (i.e., a horizontal direction); light emitting elements (see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9) located in first to third pixels (again, see (PA3, PA1, PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX3, PX1, PX2) in Fig. 9); a color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b) in Fig. 2) located on the light emitting elements (again, see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9); a light blocking layer (see (152) in Fig. 2) located on the color conversion layer (again, see (140c, 140a, 140b)); and a planarization layer (see (170) in Fig. 2) located between the color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b)) and the light blocking layer (see (152)), wherein a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the first pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA3) and (140c) in Fig. 2) in a second direction (i.e., a vertical direction) intersecting the first direction (i.e., the horizontal direction) is thicker (i.e., in the vertical direction at an arbitrary point) than a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the second pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA1) and (140a) in Fig. 2) in the second direction (i.e., the vertical direction), and the thickness of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the second pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA1) and (140a) in Fig. 2) is thicker (i.e., in the vertical direction at an arbitrary point) than a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization (see (170)) of the third pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA2) and (140b) in Fig. 2; and see Page 3, Para. [0052], [0054], [0056], and [0060]). It is a general goal of Kim to provide a display device structure, analogous to that of Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999, that allows for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device (see Page 9, Para. [0059]) and further improves light emission efficiency (see Page 5, Para. [0079]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999 with the teachings of Kim, such that “the thickness of the planarization layer of the second pixel is thicker than a thickness of the planarization of the third pixel,” in order to allow for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device.
Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent does not recite the features of Claim 3 of the instant application wherein “the color conversion layer includes: a first color conversion layer located in the first pixel; a second color conversion layer located in the second pixel; and a light scattering layer located in the third pixel.”
However, in the same field of endeavor, Kim discloses (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 9) a display device (10; see Page 3, Para. [0049]-[0052] and Page 6, Para. [0096]) comprising: a first pixel (see (PA3) in Fig. 2 and (PX3) in Fig. 9), a second pixel (see (PA1) in Fig. 2 and (PX1) in Fig. 9), and a third pixel (see (PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX2) in Fig. 9) disposed along a first direction (i.e., a horizontal direction); light emitting elements (see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9) located in first to third pixels (again, see (PA3, PA1, PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX3, PX1, PX2) in Fig. 9); a color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b) in Fig. 2) located on the light emitting elements (again, see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9); a light blocking layer (see (152) in Fig. 2) located on the color conversion layer (again, see (140c, 140a, 140b)); and a planarization layer (see (170) in Fig. 2) located between the color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b)) and the light blocking layer (see (152)), wherein a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the first pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA3) and (140c) in Fig. 2) in a second direction (i.e., a vertical direction) intersecting the first direction (i.e., the horizontal direction) is thicker (i.e., in the vertical direction at an arbitrary point) than a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the second pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA1) and (140a) in Fig. 2) in the second direction (i.e., the vertical direction), and wherein the color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b)) includes: a first color conversion layer (140c) located in the first pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA3) and (140c) in Fig. 2); a second color conversion layer (140a) located in the second pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA1) and (140a) in Fig. 2); and a light scattering layer (140b) located in the third pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA2) and (140b) in Fig. 2; and see Page 3, Para. [0052], [0054], [0056], and [0060]; and see Fig. 3 with Page 3 through Page 4, Para. [0063]-[0067]). It is a general goal of Kim to provide a display device structure, analogous to that of Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999, that allows for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device (see Page 9, Para. [0059]) and further improves light emission efficiency (see Page 5, Para. [0079]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999 with the teachings of Kim, such that “the color conversion layer includes: a first color conversion layer located in the first pixel; a second color conversion layer located in the second pixel; and a light scattering layer located in the third pixel,” in order to allow for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device.
Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent does not recite the features of Claim 4 of the instant application wherein “each of the first color conversion layer and the second color conversion layer include a quantum dot.”
However, in the same field of endeavor, Kim discloses (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 9) a display device (10; see Page 3, Para. [0049]-[0052] and Page 6, Para. [0096]) comprising: a first pixel (see (PA3) in Fig. 2 and (PX3) in Fig. 9), a second pixel (see (PA1) in Fig. 2 and (PX1) in Fig. 9), and a third pixel (see (PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX2) in Fig. 9) disposed along a first direction (i.e., a horizontal direction); light emitting elements (see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9) located in first to third pixels (again, see (PA3, PA1, PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX3, PX1, PX2) in Fig. 9); a color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b) in Fig. 2) located on the light emitting elements (again, see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9); a light blocking layer (see (152) in Fig. 2) located on the color conversion layer (again, see (140c, 140a, 140b)); and a planarization layer (see (170) in Fig. 2) located between the color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b)) and the light blocking layer (see (152)), wherein a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the first pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA3) and (140c) in Fig. 2) in a second direction (i.e., a vertical direction) intersecting the first direction (i.e., the horizontal direction) is thicker (i.e., in the vertical direction at an arbitrary point) than a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the second pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA1) and (140a) in Fig. 2) in the second direction (i.e., the vertical direction), and wherein each of the first color conversion layer (140c) and the second color conversion layer (140a) include a quantum dot (see (72, 52) in Fig. 3; and see Page 3, Para. [0052], [0054], [0056], and [0060]; and Page 3 through Page 4, Para. [0063]-[0067]). It is a general goal of Kim to provide a display device structure, analogous to that of Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999, that allows for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device (see Page 9, Para. [0059]) and further improves light emission efficiency (see Page 5, Para. [0079]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999 with the teachings of Kim, such that “each of the first color conversion layer and the second color conversion layer include a quantum dot,” in order to allow for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device.
Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent does not recite the features of Claim 5 of the instant application wherein “the light scattering layer includes a light scattering particle.”
However, in the same field of endeavor, Kim discloses (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 9) a display device (10; see Page 3, Para. [0049]-[0052] and Page 6, Para. [0096]) comprising: a first pixel (see (PA3) in Fig. 2 and (PX3) in Fig. 9), a second pixel (see (PA1) in Fig. 2 and (PX1) in Fig. 9), and a third pixel (see (PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX2) in Fig. 9) disposed along a first direction (i.e., a horizontal direction); light emitting elements (see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9) located in first to third pixels (again, see (PA3, PA1, PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX3, PX1, PX2) in Fig. 9); a color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b) in Fig. 2) located on the light emitting elements (again, see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9); a light blocking layer (see (152) in Fig. 2) located on the color conversion layer (again, see (140c, 140a, 140b)); and a planarization layer (see (170) in Fig. 2) located between the color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b)) and the light blocking layer (see (152)), wherein a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the first pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA3) and (140c) in Fig. 2) in a second direction (i.e., a vertical direction) intersecting the first direction (i.e., the horizontal direction) is thicker (i.e., in the vertical direction at an arbitrary point) than a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the second pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA1) and (140a) in Fig. 2) in the second direction (i.e., the vertical direction), and wherein the light scattering layer (140b) includes a light scattering particle (see (63) in Fig. 3; and see Page 3, Para. [0052], [0054], [0056], and [0060]; and Page 3 through Page 4, Para. [0063]-[0067]). It is a general goal of Kim to provide a display device structure, analogous to that of Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999, that allows for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device (see Page 9, Para. [0059]) and further improves light emission efficiency (see Page 5, Para. [0079]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999 with the teachings of Kim, such that “the light scattering layer includes a light scattering particle,” in order to allow for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device.
Claim 1 of the cited U.S. Patent does not recite the features of Claim 6 of the instant application wherein “the light scattering particle includes at least one of titanium oxide (TiO2), barium sulfate (BaSO4), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), silicon oxide (SiO2), silicon nitride (Si3N4), aluminum oxide (A12O3), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), or zinc oxide (ZnO).”
However, in the same field of endeavor, Kim discloses (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 9) a display device (10; see Page 3, Para. [0049]-[0052] and Page 6, Para. [0096]) comprising: a first pixel (see (PA3) in Fig. 2 and (PX3) in Fig. 9), a second pixel (see (PA1) in Fig. 2 and (PX1) in Fig. 9), and a third pixel (see (PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX2) in Fig. 9) disposed along a first direction (i.e., a horizontal direction); light emitting elements (see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9) located in first to third pixels (again, see (PA3, PA1, PA2) in Fig. 2 and (PX3, PX1, PX2) in Fig. 9); a color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b) in Fig. 2) located on the light emitting elements (again, see (200) in Fig. 2 corresponding to (230) in Fig. 9); a light blocking layer (see (152) in Fig. 2) located on the color conversion layer (again, see (140c, 140a, 140b)); and a planarization layer (see (170) in Fig. 2) located between the color conversion layer (see (140c, 140a, 140b)) and the light blocking layer (see (152)), wherein a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the first pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA3) and (140c) in Fig. 2) in a second direction (i.e., a vertical direction) intersecting the first direction (i.e., the horizontal direction) is thicker (i.e., in the vertical direction at an arbitrary point) than a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness at an arbitrary point) of the planarization layer (see (170)) of the second pixel (see the pixel corresponding to (PA1) and (140a) in Fig. 2) in the second direction (i.e., the vertical direction), and wherein the light scattering particle (see (63) in Fig. 3) includes at least one of titanium oxide (TiO2), barium sulfate (BaSO4), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), silicon oxide (SiO2), silicon nitride (Si3N4), aluminum oxide (A12O3), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), or zinc oxide (ZnO; see Page 3, Para. [0052], [0054], [0056], and [0060]; and Page 3 through Page 4, Para. [0063]-[0067]). It is a general goal of Kim to provide a display device structure, analogous to that of Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999, that allows for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device (see Page 9, Para. [0059]) and further improves light emission efficiency (see Page 5, Para. [0079]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,333,999 with the teachings of Kim, such that “the light scattering particle includes at least one of titanium oxide (TiO2), barium sulfate (BaSO4), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), silicon oxide (SiO2), silicon nitride (Si3N4), aluminum oxide (A12O3), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), or zinc oxide (ZnO),” in order to allow for improved efficiency of manufacturing while compensating for errors in the formation of the various layers of the display device.
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.
Claims 7-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kang et al. (hereinafter “Kang” US 2018 / 0052362).
As pertaining to Claim 7, Kang discloses (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B in combination with Fig. 5A) a display device (see Page 3, Para. [0045]-[0047] and [0052]-[0056]) comprising:
a first pixel (PX1), a second pixel (PX2), and a third pixel (PX3);
light emitting elements (510, 520, 530) located in the first to third pixels (PX1, PX2, PX3);
a color conversion layer (253a, 253b, 255, 255’) located on the light emitting elements (510, 520, 530); and
a light blocking layer (270) located on the color conversion layer (253a, 253b, 255, 255’),
wherein a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness) of the light blocking layer (270) of the first pixel (PX1; see a highest portion of (270) at (PX1) in Fig. 4B) is thicker than a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness) of the light blocking layer (270) of the second pixel (PX2; see a middle portion of (270) under (251) at (PX2) in Fig. 4B; see Page 5, Para. [0089]-[0094]; Page 6, Para. [0102]-[0107]; and Page 6 through Page 7, Para. [0113]-[0115] with Page 7, Para. [0128]).
As pertaining to Claim 8, Kang discloses (see Fig. 4B and Fig. 5A) that the thickness (i.e., the vertical thickness) of the light blocking layer (270) of the second pixel (PX2; see a middle portion of (270) under (251) at (PX2) in Fig. 4B) is thicker than a thickness (i.e., a vertical thickness) of the light blocking layer (270) of the third pixel (PX3; see any portion of (270) at a right side of (255) and/or (255’) in Fig. 5A; again, see Page 6 through Page 7, Para. [0113]-[0115] with Page 7, Para. [0128]).
As pertaining to Claim 9, Kang discloses (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B in combination with Fig. 5A) that the color conversion layer (253a, 253b, 255, 255’) includes:
a first color conversion layer (253a) located in the first pixel (PX1);
a second color conversion layer (253b) located in the second pixel (PX2); and
a light scattering layer (255) located in the third pixel (PX3; again, see Page 5, Para. [0089]-[0094]; and Page 6, Para. [0102]-[0107]).
As pertaining to Claim 10, Kang discloses (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B in combination with Fig. 5A) that each of the first color conversion layer (253a) and the second color conversion layer (253b) include a quantum dot (again, see Page 5, Para. [0089]-[0094]).
As pertaining to Claim 11, Kang discloses (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B in combination with Fig. 5A) that the light scattering layer (255) includes a light scattering particle (again, see Page 6, Para. [0103]-[0105] and note that the light scattering layer (255) is a patterned layer implicitly comprising arbitrary particles that scatter light).
As pertaining to Claim 12, Kang discloses (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B in combination with Fig. 5A) a color filter layer (see (251) and any portion of (255’)) between the color conversion layer (253a, 253b, 255, 255’) and the light blocking layer (270; see Page 5, Para. [0089] and Page 7, Para. [0128]).
As pertaining to Claim 13, Kang discloses (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B in combination with Fig. 5A) that the color filter layer (see (251) and any portion of (255’)) further includes:
a first color filter (see any portion of (251)) located in the first pixel (PX1);
a second color filter (see any portion of (251)) located in the second pixel (PX2); and
a third color filter (see any portion of (255’)) located in the third pixel (PX3; and again, see Page 5, Para. [0089] and Page 7, Para. [0128]).
As pertaining to Claim 14, Kang discloses (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B in combination with Fig. 5A) that a thickness (i.e., an arbitrary horizontal thickness) of the first color filter (see any portion of (251) at (PX1)) is thicker (i.e., arbitrarily) than a thickness (i.e., an arbitrary horizontal thickness) of the second color filter (see any portion of (251) at (PX2); again, see Page 5, Para. [0089] and Page 7, Para. [0128]).
As pertaining to Claim 15, Kang discloses (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B in combination with Fig. 5A) that the thickness (i.e., the arbitrary horizontal thickness) of the second color filter (see any portion of (251) at (PX2)) is thicker (i.e., arbitrarily) than a thickness (i.e., an arbitrary horizontal thickness) of the third color filter (see any portion of any (255’) at (PX3); again, see Page 5, Para. [0089] and Page 7, Para. [0128]).
As pertaining to Claim 16, Kang discloses (see Fig. 4A) that each of the light emitting elements (510, 520, 530) includes:
a first semiconductor layer (i.e., a right side portion of (SM1));
a second semiconductor layer (i.e., a left side portion of (SM1)) located on (i.e., overlapping and/or coupled via intervening elements) the first semiconductor layer (i.e., the right side portion of (SM1)); and
an active layer (i.e., an area between (SE1) and (DE1) in Fig. 4A) located between the first semiconductor layer (i.e., the right side portion of (SM1)) and the second semiconductor layer (i.e., the left side portion of (SM1)).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Sugitani et al. (US 2018 / 0341147), submitted by the applicant via Information Disclosure Statement on 13 June 2025, discloses (see Fig. 1) a display device utilizing a planarization layer (261) having different thicknesses between pixels (PX) to accommodate different separation distances between a surface of a color conversion layer (240) and a light blocking layer (215).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON M MANDEVILLE whose telephone number is (571)270-3136. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 7:30AM-4:00PM.
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/JASON M MANDEVILLE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2623
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