Prior art — US Patent 9299730

US Patent 9299730, titled "Thin film transistor array substrate and organic light-emitting diode display," was granted on March 29, 2016, from an application filed on March 13, 2013, with a priority date of September 19, 2012. The patent is assigned to Samsung Display Co Ltd and is currently active, with an adjusted expiration date of December 21, 2033.

The patent addresses the problem of capacitance variation in storage capacitors within OLED displays due to overlay deviation during manufacturing, which can lead to low-gradation spots and abnormal colors. The invention proposes a capacitor structure where the upper electrode completely overlaps the lower electrode and features an opening. A connection node then electrically couples the lower electrode and at least one TFT through a node contact hole located within this opening. This design aims to maintain a substantially constant capacitance despite manufacturing misalignments.

Here is an analysis of the prior art cited in US9299730:

Cited Prior Art References:

KR20010111328A
- Full Citation: KR20010111328A
- Publication Date: 2001-12-17
- Filing Date: 2000-06-09
- Brief Description: Titled "method for fabricating array substrate for LCD". This reference generally relates to methods for fabricating array substrates, specifically for Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs).
- Potential Anticipation: Without the full content of KR20010111328A, it is not possible to definitively determine which specific claims of US9299730 it potentially anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Its general subject matter, LCD array substrate fabrication, suggests it may relate broadly to the manufacturing of display substrates, which is a foundational aspect of US9299730's context.
KR20080001106A
- Full Citation: KR20080001106A
- Publication Date: 2008-01-03
- Filing Date: 2006-06-29
- Brief Description: Titled "Array substrate for liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof". This reference is concerned with array substrates and their manufacturing methods for LCDs.
- Potential Anticipation: Similar to KR20010111328A, without access to the full text of KR20080001106A, specific claim anticipation for US9299730 cannot be determined. It likely covers general aspects of TFT array substrate design and manufacturing relevant to displays.
US20080079005A1
- Full Citation: US20080079005A1
- Publication Date: 2008-04-03
- Filing Date: 2006-09-29
- Brief Description: Titled "System for displaying images and method for fabricating the same". This patent application appears to cover broader display systems and their fabrication methods.
- Potential Anticipation: A precise anticipation analysis requires the full content of US20080079005A1. Given its general title, it might touch upon various components of display devices or manufacturing processes that could be foundational to some aspects of the TFT array substrate or OLED display described in US9299730, but without specifics, it's impossible to identify exact claims.
KR20080050704A
- Full Citation: KR20080050704A
- Publication Date: 2008-06-10
- Filing Date: 2006-12-04
- Brief Description: Titled "Array substrate and display panel having same". This reference describes an array substrate and a display panel incorporating it.
- Potential Anticipation: Without the full text, it is difficult to assess which specific claims of US9299730 are potentially anticipated. Its relevance likely lies in the general structure or components of array substrates and display panels.
KR20080085411A
- Full Citation: KR20080085411A
- Publication Date: 2008-09-24
- Filing Date: 2007-03-20
- Brief Description: Titled "OLED display panel and method of manufacturing same". This reference directly pertains to OLED display panels and their manufacturing methods.
- Potential Anticipation: As KR20080085411A is explicitly about "OLED display panel and method of manufacturing same", it is highly relevant to the overall subject matter of US9299730 (which is an OLED display). Without the full text, it is not possible to determine if it discloses the specific capacitor structure with an overlapping upper electrode, an opening, and a contact hole within the opening that addresses overlay deviation, which is a key distinguishing feature of claims 1 and 10 of US9299730. However, it may anticipate broader aspects of pixel circuits or OLED structures covered by claims 10-19.
US20120146004A1
- Full Citation: US20120146004A1
- Publication Date: 2012-06-14
- Filing Date: 2010-12-14
- Brief Description: Titled "Organic Light-Emitting Display Apparatus and Method of Manufacturing the Same". This patent application focuses on OLED display apparatuses and their manufacturing processes.
- Potential Anticipation: Given its title, US20120146004A1 is highly relevant to the OLED display aspects of US9299730, particularly claims 10-19. A detailed analysis would require its full content to see if it discloses the novel capacitor structure or other specific features claimed in US9299730. It could potentially anticipate general configurations of OLED displays or TFT driving schemes, but the unique capacitor structure for stable capacitance under misalignment would need to be specifically present for anticipation of claims 1 and 10.
US20130063330A1
- Full Citation: US20130063330A1
- Publication Date: 2013-03-14
- Filing Date: 2011-09-08
- Brief Description: Titled "Organic Light-Emitting Display Device". This patent application is also directly related to organic light-emitting display devices.
- Potential Anticipation: US20130063330A1, being published around the filing date of US9299730 (March 13, 2013) but with an earlier priority date (September 8, 2011), is a highly relevant reference for anticipating claims of US9299730. Similar to US20120146004A1 and KR20080085411A, without its full content, it's not possible to state definitively which claims of US9299730 it anticipates. However, its subject matter is very close to the core invention, suggesting it could potentially anticipate aspects related to OLED display architecture, pixel circuits, or manufacturing steps. A thorough review of its disclosures would be necessary to determine if it teaches or renders obvious the specific capacitor structure designed to mitigate overlay deviation effects.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the titles and general descriptions, KR20080085411A, US20120146004A1, and US20130063330A1 appear to be the most relevant prior art. These references explicitly mention "OLED display panel," "Organic Light-Emitting Display Apparatus," and "Organic Light-Emitting Display Device" respectively, directly aligning with the core subject matter of US9299730. Their proximity in technology and some in time (filing/publication dates) to US9299730 suggests they are more likely to contain disclosures related to the problems or components addressed by the patent. However, without the full disclosure of these documents, it is impossible to determine if they explicitly or implicitly disclose the unique capacitor structure claimed in US9299730 for maintaining constant capacitance despite manufacturing overlay deviations.