`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313- 1450
`wwwnsptogov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
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`12/553,147
`
`09/03/2009
`
`Takeshi Izumida
`
`501.50191X00
`
`6021
`
`20457
`
`7590
`
`06/04/2013
`
`ANTONELLLTERRY,STOUT&KRAUS,LLP
`1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
`SUITE 1800
`ARLINGTON, VA 22209-3873
`
`
`
`
`HS «H, HSIN Y1
`
`2811
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`06/04/2013
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`PAPER
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 12/553,147 IZUMIDA ET AL.
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`2811HSIN-YI HSIEH first“
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTH(S) OR THIRTY (30) DAYS,
`WHICHEVER IS LONGER, FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`In no event however may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX () MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`-
`-
`
`Status
`
`1)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 4 February 2013.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|:| This action is non-final.
`a)IXl This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:I Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under EX parte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`5)|XI Claim(s) 1-5 and 10-16 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6)|:l Claim(s) _ is/are allowed.
`7)IZ| Claim(s) 1-5and10- 16is/are rejected.
`8)I:I Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`9)|:l Claim((s)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`htt
`://www.usoto. ov/ atents/init events"
`
`
`
`h/index.‘s or send an inquiry to PF"I-Ifeedback{<‘busr3.to.qov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|:I The drawing(s) filed on _ is/are: a)I:I accepted or b)I:I objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)I:I Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`b)I:I Some * c)I:I None of the:
`a)I:I AII
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|:I Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Interim copies:
`
`a)|:l AII
`
`b)I:I Some
`
`c)I:I None of the:
`
`Interim copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) D Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`3) I] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`
`Paper NOISIIMa” Date —
`PTO/SB/08
`t
`St t
`I
`D'
`t'
`f
`2 IXI I
`)
`4) I:I Other:
`a emen (s)(
`Isc osure
`n orma Ion
`)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date 04/08/2013.
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 03-13)
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20130528
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/553,147
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2811
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Information Disclosure Statement
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`1.
`
`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 04/08/2013 is in compliance
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`with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being
`
`considered by the examiner.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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`2.
`
`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 USC. 112:
`
`The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making
`and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it
`pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same and shall set forth the best mode
`contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
`
`3.
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`Claim 11 is rejected under 35 USC. 112, first paragraph, as failing to comply with the
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`written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described
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`in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that
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`the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
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`Claim 11 cites “the auxiliary line is directly connected with the second electrode”, which lacks
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`the full support of the original disclosure. Fig. 1B shows that the auxiliary line 6 is not directly
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`connected to the second electrode 5, but indirectly connected to the second electrode 5 through
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`the conductive film 12, which is different from what is claimed in the above limitation in claim
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`1 1.
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`4.
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`The following is a quotation of the second paragraph of 35 USC. 112:
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`The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the
`subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/553,147
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2811
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`5.
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`Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, as being indefinite for
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`failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which applicant regards as
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`the invention.
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`6.
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`Claim 11 cites “the auxiliary line is directly connected with the second electrode" in
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`claim 11, which is inconsistent with the specification. Fig. 1B shows that the auxiliary line 6 is
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`not directly connected to the second electrode 5, but indirectly connected to the second electrode
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`5 through the conductive film 12, which is different from what is claimed in the above limitation
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`in claim 11. The inconsistency renders the claim indefinite.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`6.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all
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`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in
`section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are
`such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person
`having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the
`manner in which the invention was made.
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`7.
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`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere C0., 383 US. l, 148 USPQ 459
`
`(1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35
`
`U.S.C. 103(a) are summarized as follows:
`
`:PWN.H
`
`Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness
`or nonobviousness.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/553,147
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2811
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`8.
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`Claims 1-4 and 10-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
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`Sato et al. (US 7,224,115) in View of Umezaki (US 2007/0013613 A1) as can be understood
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`since claim 11 has been rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112.
`
`9.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Sato et al. teach a display deVice (Display apparatus; Abstract) in
`
`which pixels (col. 4 line 30) each of which includes a thin film transistor (TFT) element (TFT 4;
`
`Fig. 1, col. 4 line 30) haVing a gate electrode (Fig 1, col. 4 line 36), a source electrode (wiring 5
`
`connected to the source of the TFT 4; Fig. 1, col. 4 line 32) and a drain electrode (wiring 5
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`connected to the drain of the TFT 4; Fig. 1, col. 4 line 32), a first electrode (lower electrode 9;
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`Fig. 1, col. 38) which is connected to the TFT element (4; see Fig. 1), a second electrode (upper
`
`electrode 13; Fig. 1, col. 4 lines 38—39) which faces the first electrode (9), and a light emitting
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`layer (organic layer 11; Fig. 1, col. 4 line 38) which is interposed between the first electrode (9)
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`and the second electrode (13) are arranged on an insulation substrate (substrate 3, e. g. glass
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`substrate; Fig. 1, col. 6 line 48) in a matrix array (see Figs. 4A and 5, also implied in the name of
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`“active matrix type display", col. 4 lines 26—27), and the second electrode (13) is formed of a
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`transparent conductive material (ITO or 120; col. 6 line 14) and is connected to an auxiliary line
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`(auxiliary wiring 9a; Fig. 1, col. 4 lines 41—42), wherein the TFT element (4), the first electrode
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`(9), the light emitting layer (11) and the second electrode (13) are stacked on the insulation
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`substrate (3) in this order, the auxiliary line (9a) is arranged between the insulation substrate (3)
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`and the second electrode (13) and a bank layer (insulating film 17; Fig. 1, col. 4 line 45) which is
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`formed of an insulation material (col. 4 line 45) is interposed between the auxiliary line (9a) and
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`the second electrode (13; see Fig. 1), the auxiliary line (9a) and the second electrode (13) are
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`connected with each other Via a contact hole (connection holes 17a; Fig. 1, col. 4 line 64) formed
`
`

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`Page 5
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`in the bank layer (17) which is interposed between the auxiliary line (9a) and the second
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`electrode (13), and the auxiliary line (9a) enables suppression of a voltage drop of the second
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`electrode (13; col. 6 lines 21—35).
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`Sato et al. does not teach the auxiliary line has portions of different widths, the portions
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`of the auxiliary line of a largest width with respect to a width of other portions of the auxiliary
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`line being provided only in a region of the contact hole enabling connection of the auxiliary line
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`and the second electrode.
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`In the same field of endeavor of display devices, Umezaki teaches the conductive lines
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`(wires 5815 to 5820; Fig. 42A, paragraph [0457]) have portions of different widths (see Fig.
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`42A), the portions of the conductive lines (5815 to 5820) of a largest width with respect to a
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`width of other portions of the conductive lines (5815 to 5820) being provided only in a region of
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`the contact hole enabling connection of the conductive lines (5815 to 5820) and other conductive
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`lines (gate wires 5712—5714; Fig 41A, paragraph [0456]).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention was
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`made to combine the inventions of Sato et al. and Umezaki and have the auxiliary line having
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`portions of different widths if the width of a contact hole is equal to or wider than the wire width,
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`because Sato et al. teaches that auxiliary line is a conductive line (auxiliary wiring 9a; col. 4 lines
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`41—42), and Umezaki teaches that the conductive lines in the contact portion is formed wider than
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`in the other portions if the width of a contact hole is equal to or wider than the wire width
`
`(paragraph [0457]).
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`

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`Page 6
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`10.
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`Regarding claim 2, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 1, wherein the
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`first electrode (9) and the auxiliary line (9a) are formed on the same surface (the top surface) of
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`an insulation layer (insulating film 17; Fig. 1, col. 4 line 45).
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`11.
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`Regarding claim 3, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 2, wherein a
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`reflection film (the bottom highly reflective metallic layer of a two—layer structure of the lower
`
`electrode 9; col. 5 lines 27—34) is arranged between the first electrode (the first electrode can also
`
`be the top conductive oxide material layer of a two—layer structure of the lower electrode 9; col. 5
`
`lines 27—34) and the insulation layer (17).
`
`12.
`
`Regarding claim 4, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 1, wherein the
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`bank layer (17) is arranged on the first electrode (9), the bank layer (17) includes at least one
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`opening portion (pixel opening A; Fig. 1, col. 4 line 51) through which a portion of the first
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`electrode (9) is exposed (from 17), and the light emitting layer (11) is filled in the at least one
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`opening portion (A) formed in the bank layer (17; see Fig. 1).
`
`13.
`
`Regarding claim 10, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 1, wherein the
`
`auxiliary line (9a) is a member which is separate from (not sharing any portion of) the first
`
`electrode (9; see Fig. 1) and the TFT element (4; see Fig. 1).
`
`14.
`
`Regarding claim 11, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 1, wherein the
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`auxiliary line (9a) is directly connected with the second electrode (13) only through a conductive
`
`film (a lower layer 13a of Mg—Ag; see Fig. 1, col. 8 lines 31—33) without being directly connected
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`with the first electrode (9) only through the conductive film (13a; see Fig. 1).
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`

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`Page 7
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`15.
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`Claims 5 and 12-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentab1e over Sato
`
`et a1. and Umezaki as applied to claim 4 above, and further in view of Kubota (US 2007/0273305
`
`A1).
`
`16.
`
`Regarding claim S, Sato et a1. teach the pixels (col. 4 line 30) are arranged in a matrix
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`array (implied in the name of “active matrix type display", col. 4 lines 26—27) in the first
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`embodiment shown in Fig. 1.
`
`Sato et a1. do not teach wherein the pixels are arranged in a matrix array so as to provide
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`one of (a) a relationship between two pixe1s arranged adjacent to each other in a row direction
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`with respect to a planar shape of the at least one opening portion formed in the bank layer and (b)
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`a relationship between two pixe1s arranged adjacent to each other in a columnar direction with
`
`respect to a planar shape of the at least one opening portion formed in the bank which adopts a
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`line symmetry using a boundary between the two pixe1s as an axis of symmetry but does not
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`adopt a trans1ationa1 symmetry in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1.
`
`In the same field of endeavor of light emitting devices, Kubota teaches wherein the pixels
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`(U) are arranged in a matrix array (Figs. 1 and 2) so as to provide one of (a) a relationship
`
`between two pixe1s (Us) arranged adjacent to each other in a row direction (i.e. even and odd
`
`rows; paragraph [0048]) with respect to a planar shape of the at least one opening potion (251)
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`formed in the bank layer (25; see Fig. 2) and (b) a relationship between two pixe1s arranged
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`adjacent to each other in a columnar direction with respect to a planar shape of the at least one
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`opening portion formed in the bank 1ayer (see Fig. 2 clockwise 90 degrees) which adopts a line
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`symmetry using a boundary between the two pixe1s as an axis of symmetry (axis 1ine T; Fig. 2,
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`

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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2811
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`paragraph [0048]) but does not adopt a translational symmetry (i.e. translation by one row; see
`
`Fig. 2).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention was
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`made to combine the inventions of Sato et al., Umezaki, and Kubota and use a pixels layout
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`having mirror symmetry as taught by Kubota, because the area for the auxiliary lines can be
`
`reduced in half and the resistance of the auxiliary line can be reduced without reducing aperture
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`ratio as taught by Kubota (paragraph [0049]).
`
`17.
`
`Regarding claim 12, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 5, wherein the
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`contact hole (17a) formed in the bank layer (17) enabling connection of the auxiliary line (9a)
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`and the second electrode (13) is disposed between the two pixels (see Fig. 4A below) arranged
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`adjacent to each other in the columnar direction (vertical direction; see Fig. 4A below; the
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`contact hole 17a is directly below the auxiliary line 9a shown in Fig. 4B, i.e. similar to 9a,
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`contact hole 17a is disposed between two pixels shown in Fig. 4A below).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/553,147
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`Page 9
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`Art Unit: 2811
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`F I G. 4A
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`
` hmhflmma‘
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`Fig. 4A of Sato et al. showing pixels in two rectangular dash lines.
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`18.
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`Regarding claim 13, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 12, wherein the
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`auxiliary line (9a) extends in the row direction (horizontal direction) of the pixels arranged in the
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`matrix array (see Fig. 4A above) between adjacent pixels in the columnar direction (vertical
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`direction in Fig. 4A) enabling connection of the auxiliary line (9a) and the second electrode (13).
`
`Sato et al. does not teach the auxiliary line with the largest width portions of the auxiliary
`
`line being provided only in the region of the contact holes.
`
`In the same field of endeavor of display devices, Umezaki teaches the conductive lines
`
`(wires 5815 to 5820; Fig. 42A, paragraph [0457]) with the largest width portions of the
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`conductive line being provided only in the region of the contact holes (paragraph [0457]).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/553,147
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`Page 10
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`Art Unit: 2811
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention was
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`made to combine the inventions of Sato et al. and Umezaki and have the auxiliary line with the
`
`largest width portions of the auxiliary line being provided only in the region of the contact holes
`
`if the width of a contact hole is equal to or wider than the wire width, because Sato et al. teaches
`
`that auxiliary line is a conductive line (auxiliary wiring 9a; col. 4 lines 41—42), and Umezaki
`
`teaches that the conductive lines in the contact portion is formed wider than in the other portions
`
`if the width of a contact hole is equal to or wider than the wire width (paragraph [0457]).
`
`19.
`
`Regarding claim 14, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 13, wherein the
`
`first electrode (9) and the auxiliary line (9a) are formed on the same surface (the top surface) of
`
`an insulation layer (insulating film 17; Fig. 1, col. 4 line 45).
`
`20.
`
`Regarding claim 15, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 14, wherein a
`
`reflection film (the bottom highly reflective metallic layer of a two—layer structure of the lower
`
`electrode 9; col. 5 lines 27—34) is arranged between the first electrode (the first electrode can also
`
`be the top conductive oxide material layer of a two—layer structure of the lower electrode 9; col. 5
`
`lines 27—34) and the insulation layer (17).
`
`21.
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`Regarding claim 16, Sato et al. teach a display device according to claim 15, wherein the
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`bank layer (17) is disposed on the first electrode (9; see Fig. 1).
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`Response to Arguments
`
`22.
`
`Applicant’s amendments, filed 07/27/2012, do not overcome the rejections to claim 11
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`under 35 U.S.C. 112. The rejections to claim 11 under 35 U.S.C. 112 still stand. The examiner
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`would like to emphasize that the term "directly connected" is used in situations where elements
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`

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`Page 11
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`are connected without intervening elements (evident from paragraph [0031] of Rouse et al., US
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`2013/0015703 A1) while Fig. 1B shows that the auxiliary line 6 is not directly connected to the
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`second electrode 5 because there is an intervening element, the conductive film 12, between
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`them.
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`23.
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`Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 1—5 and 10—11 have been considered but are
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`moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
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`Conclusion
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`24.
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this
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`Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a).
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`Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
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`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
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`will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37
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`CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event,
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`however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this
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`final action.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to HSIN—YI HSIEH whose telephone number is (571)270—3043.
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`The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/553,147
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`Page 12
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`Art Unit: 2811
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Lynne A. Gurley can be reached on 571—272—1670. The faX phone number for the
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`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.
`
`/Hsin—Yi (Steven) Hsieh/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2811
`6/1/2013
`
`