www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/505,625
`
`10/20/2021
`
`Su Yeon YUN
`
`P9631US00
`
`5390
`
`KILE PARK REED & HOUTTEMAN PLLC
`JAE Y PARK
`1101 30th Street, N.W.
`suite 30
`Washington, DC 20007
`
`PRIDEMORE, NATHAN ANDREW
`
`Pana NO
`
`2898
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`03/01/2024
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`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.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e-mail address(es):
`
`email @kilepark.com
`info@kilepark.com
`jpark @kilepark.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/505,625
`YUN, Su Yeon
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`NATHAN PRIDEMORE
`2898
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORYPERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensionsof time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 20 October 2021.
`C) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)() This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3) An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4)(2) 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 Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-20 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`CL] Claim(s)__is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-8,11-16 and 18-20 is/are rejected.
`Claim(s) 9-10 and 17 is/are objected to.
`C) Claim(s
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)( The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)M The drawing(s)filed on 20 October 2021 is/are: a) accepted or b)C) 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)(¥) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)() None ofthe:
`b)( Some**
`a) All
`1.@) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin 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.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`4)
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date20October2021,
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20240222
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 2
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The presentapplication, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`underthefirst inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Claim Status
`
`2.
`
`Claims 1-20 are pending in the application filed on October 20, 2021.
`
`Priority
`
`3.
`
`Receipt is acknowledged of someofthe certified copies of papers required by 37
`
`CFR 1.55. To perfect foreign priority to KR10-2020-01 70973 with a filing date of
`
`December 09, 2020, English translation is required.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`4.
`
`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.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second paragraph:
`The specification shall conclude with one or moreclaims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`5.
`
`Claims 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA),
`
`second paragraph, as being incomplete for omitting essential structural cooperative
`
`relationships of elements, such omission amounting to a gap between the necessary
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 3
`
`structural connections. See MPEP § 2172.01. The omitted structural cooperative
`
`relationships are:
`
`Regarding Claim 1, it recites in lines 4-6 “... a pixel electrode disposed on the
`
`substrate, wherein the pixel electrode includesa first pixel electrode disposed in the
`
`folding area and a second pixel electrode disposed in the non-folding area...”. Even in
`
`light of the specification, it is unclear how a pixel electrode can structurally includea first
`
`pixel electrode disposedin the folding area and a secondpixel electrode disposedin the
`
`non-folding area. In light of the disclosure, such as in Applicant’s Fig. 8, it seems there
`
`are a plurality of pixel electrodes, wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes includesa first
`
`pixel electrode (PXE3) disposed in the folding area (FA) and a second pixel electrode
`
`(PXE1 or PXE2) disposed in the non-folding area (NFA1 or NFA2). For the purposeof
`
`applying prior art, Examineris interpreting the limitation of the claim as noted above,
`
`wherein a plurality of pixel electrodes includea first pixel electrode disposed in the
`
`folding area and a second pixel electrode disposed in the non-folding area. For the
`
`reason above, claims 2-12 are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) based on their
`
`dependency ofclaim 1.
`
`Regarding Claim 13, it recites in lines 4-7 “... a pixel electrode disposed on the
`
`substrate, wherein the pixel electrode includesa first pixel electrode disposedinafirst
`
`pixel disposedin the folding area and a secondpixel electrode disposed in a second
`
`pixel disposed in the non-folding area...”. Even in light of the specification, it is unclear
`
`how a pixel electrode can structurally includeafirst pixel electrode disposed in the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 4
`
`folding area and a second pixel electrode disposed in the non-folding area.In light of
`
`the disclosure, such as in Applicant’s Fig. 8,
`
`it seems there are a plurality of pixel
`
`electrodes, wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes includesa first pixel electrode
`
`(PXE3) disposedin the folding area (FA) and a secondpixel electrode (PXE1 or PXE2)
`
`disposed in the non-folding area (NFA1 or NFA2). For the purpose of applying prior art,
`
`Examineris interpreting the limitation of the claim as noted above, wherein a plurality of
`
`pixel electrodes includea first pixel electrode disposedinafirst pixel disposed in the
`
`folding area and a second pixel electrode disposed in a second pixel disposedin the
`
`non-folding area. For this reason, claims 14-18 are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b)
`
`based on their dependencyof claim 13.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`6.
`
`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 madein 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 effectivefiling date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`7.
`
`Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yuan-Lin
`
`Wu (US 2019/0181208 A1; hereinafter Wu).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 5
`
`A.
`
`
`
`Wu MODIFIED FIG, 12
`
`Regarding Claim 19, Wu teaches a display device (Wu; Abstract) comprising: a
`
`substrate (Wu; Fig. 12; 105; 70021) including a display area (Wu; Fig. 1; display area
`
`115; §0022) including a folding area (Wu; shown moreclearly in Fig. 2; folding area
`
`210; 40028) and a non-folding area (Wu; Fig. 2; 215-1 or 215-2 are the non-folding
`
`areas; 40028) disposed adjacent to the folding area (as shown in Wu Fig. 2 and
`
`described in 40028), and a non-display area surrounding the display area (as shownin
`
`WuFig. 1; the non-display area is the area around 115; 40022): and a pixel electrode
`
`(Wu; Fig. 5; pixel electrodes 555 include 555-1 and 555-2; 40041) disposed on the
`
`substrate (as shown in Wu Fig. 5; the pixel electrodes are disposed on the substrate
`
`105), wherein the substrate (Wu; 105) includes: a first segment disposed in the folding
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 6
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`area (as shown moreclearly in Wu Fig. 12; a first segment of 105 exists in the folding
`
`area 210 with a thickness T1) and including a plurality of island-like patterns (Wu; Fig.
`
`12; island-like patterns 545) and a plurality of bridge patterns (Wu; Fig. 12; the
`
`unlabeled layer between 515 and 520 arethe bridge-like patterns connecting each of
`
`the island-like patterns 545, labeled in Wu modified Fig. 12 as BR for clarity; and
`
`described in (0039 as being a cathode) connecting ones ofthe plurality of island-like
`
`patterns that are adjacent to each other (as shownin Wu Fig. 12), and a second
`
`segment disposed in the non-folding area (as shown in Wu Fig. 12; a second segment
`
`of 105 exists in the non-folding area 215-1 or 215-2 with a thickness T2) defined by the
`
`non-display area (area surrounding 115 in Wu Fig. 1) and the folding area (Wu; 210).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`8.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousnessrejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patentfor a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the
`claimed invention andthe prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have
`been obvious beforethe 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.
`
`9.
`
`Claims 1-4, and 6-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Yuan-Lin Wu (US 2019/0181208 A1; hereinafter Wu) in view of Yoon Sung Um et
`
`al. (US 2015/0108486 A1; hereinafter Um).
`
`Regarding Claim 1, Wu teaches a display device (Wu; Abstract) comprising: a
`
`substrate (Wu; Fig. 1; 105; 40025) including a folding area (Wu; Fig. 2; 210; 40028) and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 7
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`a non-folding area (Wu; Fig. 2; 215-1 or 215-2; 90028) disposed adjacentto the folding
`
`area (as shown in WuFig. 2; the folding area 210 is adjacent to the non-folding area
`
`215-1 or 215-2); and a plurality of pixel electrodes (Wu; Fig. 5; pixel electrodes 555
`
`include 555-1 and 555-2; 90041) disposed on the substrate (105) (as shown in Wu Fig.
`
`5), wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes (555) includeafirst pixel electrode (Wu; Fig.
`
`5; 555-1) disposed in the folding area (as shown in Wu Fig. 5; 555-1 is disposed in
`
`folding area 210) and a secondpixel electrode (Wu; Fig. 5; 555-2) disposed in the non-
`
`folding area (as shown in Wu Fig. 5; 555-2 is disposed in the non-folding area 215).
`
`Wuteaches the substantial elements of the claim as cited above, but is silent
`
`regarding the shapedetails of the first pixel electrode (555-1) which includes one or
`
`more openings positioned in an interior of the first pixel electrode with respect to an
`
`outermost edge ofthe first pixel electrode.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 8
`
`
`
`Um) MODIFIED Sew!
`
`
`
`In the same display panelfield of endeavor, Um teachesutilizing a pixel
`
`electrode (Um; Fig. 1; 40038; referred to as PE hereinafterfor clarity) that has a comb-
`
`like structure in a display panel. The pixel electrode of Um Fig. 1 has one or more
`
`openings (Um; modified Fig. 1; OP, denoted for clarity) positioned in an interior of the
`
`pixel electrode with respect to an outermost edge (Um; modified Fig. 1; OE, denoted for
`
`clarity) of the pixel electrode. It would have been obvious to one ofordinary skill in the
`
`art, at the time the claimed invention wasfiled, to modify the display device of Wu to
`
`include the pixel electrode of Um asthe first pixel electrode in the folding area . One of
`
`ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification for the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 9
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`benefit of providing a display with a high light transmittance, as disclosed in 40006of
`
`Um.
`
`Regarding Claim 2, Wu modified by Um teach the display device of claim 1, and
`
`wherein the first pixel electrode (Um; modified Fig. 1, PE) includes a plurality of
`
`openings (Um; modified Fig. 1; OP), wherein each of the plurality of openings includes a
`
`slit connected from the outermost edge to thereby havethe first pixel electrode (PE)
`
`form a comb-like structure (as shown in Um modified Fig. 1; OP formsa slit from the
`
`outermost edge OE to form a comb-like structure).
`
`Regarding Claim 3, Wu modified by Um teach the display device of claim 2, and
`
`wherein eachof the plurality of openings (Um; modified Fig. 1; OP) includes a hole (the
`
`hole is the slit where no material is disposed in modified Fig. 1 of Um) surrounded by a
`
`material (the hole/slit is surrounded by material represented by the shadedportions 1
`
`and 2 of the PE of Um in modified Fig. 1) forming the first pixel electrode (as shownin
`
`Um; modified Fig. 1).
`
`Regarding Claim 4, Wu modified by Um teach the display device of claim 1, and
`
`wherein a surface area (Wu; Fig. 8A; A1) of the first pixel electrode (Wu; 555-1) is
`
`smaller than a surface area (Wu; Fig. 8A; A2) of the secondpixel electrode (Wu; 555-
`
`2). Wu discloses in 40039 that elements 425 include the anode whichis the pixel
`
`electrode. Wu then discloses in 40051 in reference to Fig. 8A that the elements 425 in
`
`the folding area (Wu; 210) have a smaller area (Wu; A1) than the elements 425 in the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 10
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`non-folding area (Wu; 215-1 or 215-2) having an area (Wu; A2) in order to reduce
`
`damage in the folding region).
`
`Regarding Claim 6, Wu modified by Um teachthe display device of claim 1, and
`
`wherein the folding area (Wu; 210) extendsin a first direction (Wu; Fig. 2; folding area
`
`extendsinto the page inafirst direction), and the non-folding area (Wu; 215-1 or 215-2)
`
`is disposed on one side and the otherside of the folding area (Wu; 210) in a second
`
`direction crossing thefirst direction (as shown in Wu. Fig. 2; the non-folding area 215-1
`
`is disposed to the left of the folding area 210, and the non-folding area 215-2 is
`
`disposedto the right of the folding area 210, and the second direction is left to right of
`
`the page whichcrossesthe first direction in/out of the page), and thefirst pixel electrode
`
`(Um; modified Fig. 1).
`
`Wu and Um donot explicitly disclose the orientation of the electrode extension
`
`portions wherein thefirst pixel electrode includes a plurality of extension portions (Um;
`
`extension portions 1) extending in the first direction (in/out of the page in Fig. 2 of Wu)
`
`and a connection portion (Um; connection portion 2) connecting the plurality of
`
`extension portions adjacent to each otherin the second direction (left/right across the
`
`page in Fig. 2 of Wu). However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art, before the claimed invention wasfiled, to try both orientations (in/out of the page
`
`or left/right across the page) of the pixel electrode of Um in the display of Wu in order to
`
`seeif light transmittance is improved. This rationale has been deemed properunderthe
`
`guidanceof “obviousto try” in MPEP 2143 | (E).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 11
`
`Regarding Claim 7, Wu modified by Um teach the display device of claim 6, and
`
`wherein a width of each of the extension portions (Um; Fig. 1; 1) is greater than a width
`
`of the connection portion (Um; Fig. 1; 2) (as shown in Um; Fig. 1 and described in
`
`0068; the width of portion 1
`
`is greater than the width of portion 2).
`
`Regarding Claim 8, Wu modified by Um teach the display device of claim 6, and
`
`wherein the substrate (Wu; 105) is configured to be folded around a folding axis (Wu;
`
`Fig. 2; 120) extending in the first direction (Wu; Fig. 2; in/out of the page).
`
`Wu modified by Um does notexplicitly teach wherein a distance between the
`
`plurality of extension portions (Um; Fig. 1; 1) adjacent to each otherin a folded state of
`
`the substrate is greater than a distance betweenthe plurality of extension portions
`
`adjacentto each otherin an unfolded state of the substrate. However, the pixel
`
`electrode of the foldable device of Wuin the folding region (Wu; 555-1) would have to
`
`be stretched in order to not crack when folded. Whenthe pixel electrode of Wuis
`
`modified by the shape of Um (as described above) it would be obvious to oneof
`
`ordinary skill in the art, before the claimed invention wasfiled, to realize that the
`
`extension portions (Um; 1) would be stretched and further away from one another when
`
`the device is folded comparedto the distance between the extension portions in the
`
`unfolded state.
`
`10.
`
`Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yuan-Lin
`
`Wu (US 2019/0181208 A1; hereinafter Wu) in view of Yoon Sung Um etal. (US
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 12
`
`2015/0108486 A1; hereinafter Um)in further view of Qing Lu et al. (CN108877525A;
`
`translation with paragraph numbers providedin this Office action; hereinafter Lu).
`
`
`
`Regarding Claim 5, Wu modified by Um teach the display device of claim 4 (as
`
`rejected above), but do not explicitly disclose wherein whenafirst pixel on which the
`
`first pixel electrode is disposed (Wu; Fig. 5; 425; described in (0039 that element 425
`
`includes the anode whichis the pixel electrode, a cathode, andalight emitting layer;
`
`labeled P1 in Wu modified Fig. 5 for clarity) and a second pixel on which the second
`
`pixel electrode is disposed (Wu; 425; described in 40039 that element 425 includes the
`
`anode whichis the pixel electrode, a cathode, andalight emitting layer; labeled P2 in
`
`Wu modified Fig. 5 for clarity) represent a same gray scale, and a first gamma voltage
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 13
`
`applied to the first pixel electrode is greater than a second gamma voltage applied to
`
`the second pixel electrode.
`
`However, in the same bendable display panelfield of endeavor, Lu teaches a
`
`folding display device (Lu; Abstract) that comprises a folding area (Lu; Fig. 4; 12; (0057
`
`which is provided with a second voltage signal as described in (0033) between the non-
`
`folding display areas (Lu; Fig. 4; 11 and 13; 40057 which are provided with a first and
`
`third voltage signals as described in (0033) and comprising a plurality of pixels (Lu; Fig.
`
`4; P) disposedin the folding and non-folding areas. Lu discloses in 40065 that different
`
`driving voltages can be supplied to pixels in different sub display areas (such as the
`
`bending area 12 or the non-bending area 11/13) to provide a consistent gray scale
`
`acrossall pixels in the display area.In light of the disclosure of Lu, it would have been
`
`obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the claimed invention wasfiled, to
`
`try a driving voltage in the folding area that is greater than the driving voltage in the non-
`
`folding area from the finite options (greater than, equal to, or less than) presented in Lu
`
`in order to obtain the predictable result of a uniform display (Lu; 40065). This rationale
`
`has been deemed proper under the guidance of MPEP 2143 | (E). Furthermore, it would
`
`have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the claimed invention was
`
`filed, to utilize the voltage adjustment method of Lu in the display device of Wu in order
`
`to improve display uniformity in a bending display, as disclosed in Lu 40065.
`
`11.
`
`Claims 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Yuan-Lin Wu (US 2019/0181208 A1; hereinafter Wu) in view of Yoon Sung Um etal.
`
`(US 2015/0108486 A1; hereinafter Um) in further view of Yuan-Lin Wu
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 14
`
`(CN110648589A; a translation with paragraph numbersis provided with this Office
`
`action; hereinafter Wu_8589).
`
`~ LOD
`
`
`
`LootPY
`
`Wu_8589
`
`Fig. 5
`
`Regarding Claim 11, Wu modified by Um teach the display device of claim 1 (as
`
`rejected above), and wherein the folding area (Wu; 210) extendsinafirst direction (Wu;
`
`Fig. 2; first direction is in/out of the page), and the non-folding area is disposed on one
`
`side (Wu; 215-1) and the other side (Wu; 215-2) of the folding area (Wu; 210) ina
`
`second direction crossing the first direction (second direction is left to right of the page
`
`in WuFig. 2, and it crossesthe first direction in/out of the page).
`
`Wu modified by Um does notexplicitly disclose wherein the display device
`
`further comprises: a plurality of first wires disposed on the substrate (Wu; 105) and
`
`extending in the first direction (Wu; in/out of the page); and a plurality of second wires
`
`disposed on the substrate (Wu; 105) and extending in the second direction (Wu;
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
`
`Page 15
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`left/right of the page), wherein the plurality offirst wires includeafirst folding wire
`
`disposed in the folding area (Wu; 210) andafirst non-folding wire disposed in the non-
`
`folding area (Wu; 215-1 or 215-2), and the first folding wire includes a plurality offirst
`
`wire holes penetrating to inside of thefirst folding wire.
`
`However, in the same folding display panel field of endeavor, Wu_8589 teaches
`
`a similar foldable display device (Wu_8589; Fig. 1 and Fig. 5; device 100) with a folding
`
`region (Wu_8589; Fig. 1; R1 with a folding axis in the first direction D2; 40032)
`
`surrounded by two non-folding regions (Wu_8589; Fig. 1; R2 disposed in a second
`
`direction D1 relative to the folding region 40032). Wu_8589 then discloses in Fig. 5 a
`
`plurality of first wires extending in the first direction (Wu_8589; Fig. 5; first wires CL2
`
`extending in the first direction D2) and a plurality of second wires extending in the
`
`second direction (Wu_8589; Fig. 5; second wires CL1 extending in the second direction
`
`D1). The plurality of first wires (Wu_8589; CL2) include somedisposedin the folding
`
`area (Wu_8589; R1) and are interpreted to bethe first folding wire and some in the non-
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`folding area (Wu_8589; R2) which areinterpreted to bethe first non-folding wire. The
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`first folding wire (Wu_8589; Fig. 5; the wire CL2 disposed in the region R1) includes a
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`plurality of first wire holes penetrating to inside of the first folding wire (as shownin
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`Wu_8589 Fig. 5; CL2 contains holes OP2).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the
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`claimed invention wasfiled, to incorporate the wires of Wu_8589 in the device of (Wu
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`modified by Um) in order to provide a bending sensor unit to detect the folded or
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`unfolded state, to prevent resistancein the wires from being too high, and to reduce
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`stress on the wires whenfolding (as disclosed in Wu_8589 40004 and 40053).
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`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
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`Page 16
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`Regarding Claim 12, Wu modified by Um and Wu_8589 teachthe display
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`device of claim 11, and wherein each of the second wires (Wu_8589; Fig. 5; CL1)
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`includes a folding wire portion disposedin the folding area and a non-folding wire
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`portion disposed in the non-folding area (the folding wire portion is the portion of CL1 in
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`the folding region R1 and the non-folding wire portion is the portion of CL1 disposed in
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`the non-folding region R2), and the folding wire portion includes a plurality of second
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`wire holes penetrating to an inside of the second wires (as shown in Wu_8589 Fig. 5,
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`CL1 contains holes OP1).
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`12.
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`Claims 13-15 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
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`over Yuan-Lin Wu (US 2019/0181208 A1; hereinafter Wu) in view of Qing Luetal.
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`(CN108877525A; translation with paragraph numbersprovided in this Office action;
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`hereinafter Lu).
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`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
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`Page 17
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`feeeeeee
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`paeta
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` a “
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`
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`Regarding Claim 13, Wu teaches a display device (Wu; Abstract) comprising: a
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`substrate (Wu; Fig. 1; 105; 40025) including a folding area (Wu; Fig. 2; 210; 40028) and
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`a non-folding area (Wu; Fig. 2; 215-1 or 215-2; 90028) disposed adjacentto the folding
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`area (as shown in WuFig. 2; the folding area 210 is adjacent to the non-folding area
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`215-1 or 215-2); and a plurality of pixel electrodes (Wu; Fig. 5; pixel electrodes 555
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`include 555-1 and 555-2; 90041) disposed on the substrate (105) (as shown in Wu Fig.
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`5), wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes (555) includesa first pixel electrode (Wu;
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`Fig. 5; 555-1) disposedin a first pixel (Wu; 425; described in 40039 that element 425
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`includes the anode whichis the pixel electrode, a cathode, andalight emitting layer;
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`labeled P1 in Wu modified Fig. 5 for clarity) disposed in the folding area (as shownin
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`WuFig. 5; 555-1 andit’s respective pixel 425/P1 is disposed in folding area 210) anda
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`second pixel electrode (Wu; Fig. 5; 555-2) disposed in a second pixel (Wu; 425;
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`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
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`Page 18
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`described in 40039 that element 425 includes the anode whichis the pixel electrode, a
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`cathode, and a light emitting layer; labeled P2 in Wu modified Fig. 5 for clarity) disposed
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`in the non-folding area (as shownin WuFig. 5; 555-2 andit’s respective pixel 425/P2is
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`disposed in the non-folding area 215).
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`Wudoesnotexplicitly teach wherein the first pixel and the secondpixel
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`represent a samegray scale, and wherein a first gamma voltage applied to the first pixel
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`electrodeis different from a second gamma voltage applied to the second pixel
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`electrode.
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`However, in the same bendable display panelfield of endeavor, Lu teaches a
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`folding display device (Lu; Abstract) that comprises a folding area (Lu; Fig. 4; 12; (0057
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`which is provided with a second voltage signal as described in 40033) between the non-
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`folding display areas (Lu; Fig. 4; 11 and 13; 40057 which are providedwith a first and
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`third voltage signals as described in 40033) and comprising a plurality of pixels (Lu; Fig.
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`4; P) disposedin the folding and non-folding areas. Lu discloses in 0065 that different
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`driving voltages can be supplied to pixels in different sub display areas (such as pixels
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`in the bending area or pixels in the non-bending area) to provide a consistent gray scale
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`acrossall pixels in the display area. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
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`in the art, before the claimed invention wasfiled, to utilize the voltage adjustment
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`method of Lu in the display device of Wuin orderto improve display uniformity in a
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`bending display, as disclosed in Lu 40065.
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`Regarding Claim 14, Wu modified by Lu teach the display device of claim 13,
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`wherein the folding area (Wu; 210) extendsin a first direction (Wu; Fig. 2; first direction
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`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
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`Page 19
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`is in/out of the page), and the non-folding area is disposed on one side (Wu; 215-1) and
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`the other side (Wu; 215-2) of the folding area (Wu; 210) in a second direction crossing
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`the first direction (second direction is left to right of the page in Wu Fig. 2, and it crosses
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`the first direction in/out of the page), and the substrate (Wu; 105) is configured to be
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`folded arounda folding axis extending in thefirst direction (Wu; Fig. 2; folding axis 120
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`extendsin thefirst direction in/out of the page, of which the substrate is configured to be
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`folded around the folding axis as described in 40025)
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`Regarding Claim 15, Wu modified by Lu teach the display device of claim 14,
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`but do not explicitly state wherein the first gamma voltage applied to a pixel in the
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`bending area is greater than the second gamma voltage applied to a pixel in the non-
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`bending area.
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`Lu does not explicitly disclose that the second driving voltage applied to a pixel in
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`the bending area is greater than the first or third driving voltages applied to pixels in the
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`non-bending areas. In light of the disclosure of Lu, it would have been obvious to one of
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`ordinary skill in the art, at the time the claimed invention wasfiled, to try a driving
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`voltage for pixels in the folding area that is greater than the driving voltage for pixels in
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`the non-folding area from the finite options (greater than, equal to, or less than)
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`presentedin Lu in order to obtain the predictable result of a uniform display (Lu;
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`40065). This rationale has been deemed proper under the guidance of MPEP 2143|
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`(E).
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`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
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`Page 20
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`Regarding Claim 18, Wu and Luteachthe display device of claim 13, and
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`wherein a surface area (Wu; Fig. 8A; A1) of the first pixel electrode (Wu; 555-1) is
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`smaller than a surface area (Wu; Fig. 8A; A2) of the secondpixel electrode (Wu; 555-
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`2). Wu discloses in 40039 that elements 425 include the anode whichis the pixel
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`electrode. Wu then discloses in 40051 in reference to Fig. 8A that the elements 425in
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`the folding area (Wu; 210) have a smaller area (Wu; A1) than the elements 425 in the
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`non-folding area (Wu; 215-1 or 215-2) having an area (Wu; A2) in order to reduce
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`damage in the folding region.
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`13.
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`Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yuan-Lin
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`Wu (US 2019/0181208 A1; hereinafter Wu) in view of Qing Lu et al. (CN108877525A;
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`translation with paragraph numbers providedin this Office action; hereinafter Lu) in
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`further view of Yoon Sung Um etal. (US 2015/0108486 A1; hereinafter Um).
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`Regarding Claim 16, Wu and Luteach the display device of claim 13 (as
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`rejected above), and wherein the folding area (Wu; 210) extendsin a first direction (Wu;
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`Fig. 2; first direction is in/out of the page), and the non-folding area is disposed on one
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`side (Wu; 215-1) and the other side (Wu; 215-2) of the folding area (Wu; 210) ina
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`second direction crossing the first direction (second direction is left to right of the page
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`in WuFig. 2, and it crossesthefirst direction in/out of the page).
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`Neither Wu or Lu explicitly discloses wherein the first pixel electrode (Wu; Fig. 5;
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`555-1) includesa plurality of extension portions extending in the first direction and a
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`Application/Control Number: 17/505,625
`Art Unit: 2898
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`Page 21
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`connection portion connecting the plurality of extension portions adjacent to each other
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`in the second direction.
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`However, in the same display panel field of endeavor, Um teachesutilizing a
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`pixel electrode (Um; Fig. 1; 0038; referred to as PE hereinafterfor clarity) that has a
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`comb-like structure in a display panel. The pixel electrode of Um Fig. 1 has one or more
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`openings (Um; modified Fig. 1; OP, denoted for clarity) positioned in an interior of the
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`pixel electrode with respect to an outermost edge (Um; modified Fig. 1; OE, denoted for
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`clarity) of the pixel electrode. It would ha