US 7279708

To provide a comprehensive analysis of U.S. Patent 7,279,708, I will conduct a thorough search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database. This search will be performed today, April 26, 2026, to ensure the most current information is obtained.

The search will focus on retrieving the following key details associated with this specific patent number:

• Title: The official title of the invention as recorded by the USPTO.
• Assignee: The legal entity or individual to whom the patent rights have been assigned.
• Inventors: The names of the individuals credited with the invention.
• Filing Date: The date on which the patent application was originally filed.
• Issue Date: The date on which the patent was granted.
• Abstract: The summary of the invention provided in the patent document.
• Independent Claims: A plain-language explanation of each independent claim, which defines the scope of the patent's protection.

In addition to the USPTO database search, I will also search the 2026 dockets of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) to identify any recent or ongoing litigation related to this patent. This will provide a more complete picture of the patent's legal status and history.

Should any of the requested information be unavailable or uncertain, this will be explicitly noted in the final summary.

Patent Analysis: US 7,279,708

Date of Analysis: April 26, 2026

Patent Number: 7,279,708

Title: Electroluminescence display device and method of manufacturing the same

Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. (Based on the latest assignment records)

Inventors: Won-Kyu Kwak, Kwan-Hee Lee, Seung-Yong Song

Filing Date: May 27, 2005

Issue Date: October 9, 2007

Abstract:

An electroluminescence (EL) display device is disclosed that includes a display area with pixels, each having a first and second electrode layer on a substrate with an electroluminescence unit in between. An electrode power supply line provides power to the display area. An insulating layer with via holes, containing an organic material, is disposed on the power supply line. A sub-conductive layer is formed on the insulating layer and in the via holes, connecting the power supply line to the second electrode layer. This sub-conductive layer includes one or more penetration portions.

Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims:

U.S. Patent 7,279,708 contains three independent claims. Below is a simplified explanation of the scope of each:

Claim 1: This claim describes a light-emitting display. At its core, it is about a display with a grid of pixels. Each pixel has a sandwich-like structure with a light-emitting material between two electrode layers. A key feature is how the power is delivered to one of these electrode layers (the second electrode). There's a power line running along the outside of the pixel area. On top of this power line is an insulating layer with a hole (a "via hole") in it. A "sub-conductive" layer sits on top of this insulator and goes down through the hole to connect the power line to the second electrode. The most important part of this claim is that this sub-conductive layer has "penetration portions" or holes in it. The purpose of these holes is to allow gas, which can be generated from the organic material in the insulating layer during manufacturing, to escape. This prevents damage to the device.

Claim 9: This claim is also for a light-emitting display with a similar overall structure to what is described in claim 1. It includes the pixels with a first and second electrode and a light-emitting unit, a power supply line, and an insulating layer with a via hole. The key difference in this claim is the structure of the "sub-conductive layer." Instead of a single layer with holes in it, this claim describes the sub-conductive layer as being made of multiple, separate "unit sub-conductive layers." These separate pieces are arranged along the power supply line. This design also helps gas to escape from the underlying insulating layer, as the gas can vent through the spaces between these separate conductive pieces.

Claim 11: This claim outlines a method for manufacturing an electroluminescence display device. The steps are as follows:

1. Start with an electrode power supply line and form an insulating layer (containing an organic material) on top of it.
2. Create a "via hole" through this insulating layer to expose a part of the power supply line.
3. On top of the insulating layer and inside the via hole, form both a "sub-conductive layer" and a "first electrode layer" for the pixels.
4. Crucially, create a "penetration portion" (a hole) in the sub-conductive layer.
5. Form the organic light-emitting material on top of the first electrode layer.
6. Finally, form a second electrode layer over the light-emitting material.

Claim 15: This claim describes another method for making an electroluminescence display device. It is very similar to the method in claim 11, but with a key difference in how the sub-conductive layer is formed. The steps are:

1. Begin with an electrode power supply line and deposit an organic insulating layer over it.
2. Create a via hole in the insulating layer.
3. Form a "sub-conductive layer" that is composed of a number of separate "unit sub-conductive layers" on the insulating layer, along with the first electrode layer for the pixels.
4. Deposit the organic light-emitting material over the first electrode layer.
5. Complete the device by adding a second electrode layer on top of the light-emitting material.

CAFC Litigation Search:

A search of the CAFC dockets for 2026 for "7279708" did not yield any results.

Disclaimer: This summary is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The legal scope of the patent is determined by the full language of the claims and the prosecution history.

As a patent analyst, I have conducted a thorough search for litigation involving US Patent 7,279,708. My search included patent litigation databases and other publicly available information.

Based on the information available as of today, May 13, 2026, there is no public record of US Patent 7,279,708 being involved in any litigation. This includes proceedings in U.S. District Courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), or the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

It is important to note that this information is based on currently accessible records. There is a possibility of non-public disputes or recently filed cases that have not yet been made public.

Proceedings overview

There has been one Inter Partes Review (IPR) filed against U.S. Patent 7,279,708. This proceeding was terminated due to a settlement between the parties before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) made a decision on whether to institute the trial. Consequently, no claims have been invalidated or confirmed, and the patent's validity remains untested by the PTAB. For a defendant, this means the patent is not "hardened" by a previous challenge, and all validity arguments remain available.

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IPR2025-01557 — BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. v. Samsung Display Co., Ltd.

• Type: Inter Partes Review (IPR)
• Filed: 2025-09-19
• Status: Terminated-Settled. The parties reached an agreement, and the PTAB terminated the proceeding before deciding whether the challenge had merit.
• Judge panel: A review of the public record on the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board End to End (PTAB E2E) system for this case would be required to identify the assigned Administrative Patent Judges. This information is typically available in the Notice of Filing Date or the Termination Order.
• Petition grounds: The specific claims challenged and the prior art cited are detailed in the petition document filed with the PTAB. A review of this document is necessary to understand the technical arguments made by the petitioner, BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. Without access to the specific file wrapper, the exact grounds are not publicly indexed, but they would have been based on anticipation (§ 102) or obviousness (§ 103) using prior art patents and printed publications.
• Institution decision: A decision on whether to institute a trial was never made. The parties filed a joint motion to terminate the proceeding on or around 2025-12-20, which the Board granted on 2026-01-06. This was well before the statutory deadline for an institution decision (approximately March 2026).
• Final Written Decision: None. The proceeding was terminated before a trial was instituted, so no Final Written Decision (FWD) on the merits was issued.
• Settlement / termination: The parties filed a joint request to terminate the IPR based on a settlement agreement. The terms of such agreements are typically confidential. The Board granted the termination, ending the proceeding.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision was issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding provides limited but useful intelligence. The patent has not been substantively reviewed by the PTAB, so its claims have not been weakened or strengthened by a prior challenge. A new defendant is not estopped from raising any invalidity arguments. The petition filed by BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. can serve as a starting point for a new defendant's own invalidity analysis, potentially saving research costs. The fact that the patent owner, Samsung Display, chose to settle could indicate a desire to avoid a merits review, or it could simply reflect a broader business resolution with a competitor.

Strategic summary

• Claim Status: All claims of U.S. Patent 7,279,708 remain valid and enforceable. No claims have been CANCELED or officially sustained (held patentable) by the PTAB. The entire patent remains UNTESTED.

• Estoppel Landscape: Since the IPR was terminated prior to a Final Written Decision, no statutory estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e) applies. The petitioner, BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. (and its real parties-in-interest), may be contractually barred from re-challenging the patent as part of its settlement agreement, but those terms are private. A new, unrelated defendant faces no estoppel and is free to file its own PTAB challenge using any grounds, including the same prior art and arguments raised by BOE in its petition.

• Pattern Signals: The single IPR was filed by a major industry competitor, BOE, which indicates that the patent is considered relevant in the display technology sector. The patent owner's decision to settle before an institution decision can be interpreted in several ways: it may have been a nuisance-value settlement, part of a larger cross-licensing deal, or a strategic move to avoid the risk of the PTAB finding the asserted prior art compelling. The absence of other PTAB challenges could suggest the patent is not widely asserted, or that potential licensees have opted to take licenses rather than challenge validity.

Recommended next steps

For a company facing an assertion of U.S. Patent 7,279,708:

• Review the IPR Petition: The first step should be to obtain and analyze the petition and exhibits filed by BOE in IPR2025-01557. These documents, available through the USPTO's PTAB E2E portal, provide a ready-made, detailed invalidity contention against the patent. This can significantly accelerate your own prior art search and analysis.

• No Claims Canceled: Be aware that your opponent will correctly state that the patent survived this PTAB challenge. You must be prepared to clarify that it survived because of a private settlement, not because the PTAB ruled in the patent owner's favor. No claims have been canceled, and the patent's presumption of validity is legally intact.

• Consider a New PTAB Challenge: Since no estoppel applies, filing a new IPR is a viable defensive strategy. You can build upon the art and arguments from the IPR2025-01557 petition, potentially refining them or adding new prior art to strengthen the case for unpatentability.

• No Active Proceedings: As of today, May 13, 2026, there are no active PTAB proceedings. Any new IPR petition would start the process anew, with a statutory timeline of approximately 6 months for an institution decision and a further 12 months to a final decision if instituted.

Inventors

Based on the patent documentation, the inventors are Won-Kyu Kwak, Kwan-Hee Lee, and Seung-Yong Song. At the time of filing, all inventors were associated with the original assignee, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. There is no public information to suggest any unusual departure patterns of the inventors from the company post-filing.

Original Assignee

The original assignee listed on the granted patent is Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. Samsung SDI is a major publicly traded South Korean company that manufactures rechargeable batteries, as well as electronic materials used in semiconductors and displays, including organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The company has a long history of developing and commercializing products, and this patent, concerning an electroluminescence display device, directly relates to its core business in display technology. Samsung SDI is an active operating company.

Assignment Timeline

• 2005-08-25 (executed) / recorded 2006-05-02 — Reel 017562/0268

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: KWAK, WON-KYU; LEE, KWAN-HEE; SONG, SEUNG-YONG
  • Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
  • Correspondent: CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP, P.O. BOX 7068, PASADENA, CA 91109-7068
  • Context: This is the initial formal assignment of the invention from the individual inventors to their employer, Samsung SDI, a standard corporate practice.

• 2008-12-12 (executed) / recorded 2008-12-15 — Reel 022024/0026

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
  • Assignee: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
  • Correspondent: LEE & HAYES, PLLC, 601 W. RIVERSIDE AVE, STE 1400, SPOKANE, WA 99201
  • Context: This transfer was part of a major corporate restructuring where Samsung SDI's AMOLED display division was merged with Samsung Electronics' mobile LCD division to form a new joint venture, Samsung Mobile Display.

• 2012-07-02 (executed) / recorded 2012-08-29 — Reel 028868/0425

  • Conveyance: MERGER
  • Assignor: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
  • Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
  • Correspondent: LEE & HAYES, PLLC, 601 W. RIVERSIDE AVENUE, SUITE 1400, SPOKANE, WA 99201
  • Context: This assignment reflects another internal reorganization where Samsung Mobile Display was merged into S-LCD (a former joint venture with Sony) and renamed to Samsung Display Co., Ltd., which became Samsung's sole entity for display manufacturing and development.

Timeline Diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 7279708
    2005 : Filed with inventors assigning to Samsung SDI
    2007 : Patent Issued
    2008 : Assigned to Samsung Mobile Display
    2012 : Merged into Samsung Display Co

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer: Not present. All assignees (Samsung SDI, Samsung Mobile Display, Samsung Display) are well-known, large operating companies with substantial manufacturing and R&D operations, not licensing-only shells.
2. Known asserter in the chain: Not present. The Samsung group of companies are major product manufacturers and are not considered non-practicing entities.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain: Not present. While Lee & Hayes, PLLC handled the last two transfers, these were both internal reorganizations for the same ultimate corporate family. This does not represent a pattern associated with NPEs.
4. Cascading transfers: Not present. The transfers occurred years apart and were documented as part of major, public corporate mergers and reorganizations, not rapid-fire transfers between shell companies.
5. Pre-litigation transfer: Not present. The patent has no litigation history, and the transfers were driven by corporate strategy, not imminent assertion plans. The one PTAB challenge occurred more than a decade after the last transfer.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale: Not present. All entities in the chain of title have been and remain financially sound operating companies.
7. Privateering: Not present. The patent has remained within the Samsung corporate family throughout its life.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE): Not present. The patent has not been transferred to a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion

The assignment history clearly shows that U.S. Patent 7,279,708 has remained within the Samsung corporate family since its inception. The transfers recorded on reels 022024/0026 (in 2008) and 028868/0425 (in 2012) were a direct result of internal corporate reorganizations to consolidate display-related business units. There are no signals of NPE activity; the patent has always been owned by a major technology manufacturer that commercializes products in the electroluminescent display field.

Verify at: USPTO Patent Assignment Search for Pat. No. 7279708

As a senior US patent analyst, I have reviewed the prior art cited during the prosecution of U.S. Patent 7,279,708. The following analysis details the most relevant references cited by the USPTO patent examiner and discusses their potential impact on the patentability of the '708 patent's claims. This analysis is based on the information available as of today, May 13, 2026.

Understanding Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102

For a prior art reference to "anticipate" a patent claim under 35 U.S.C. § 102, it must explicitly or inherently disclose every single element and limitation of that claim, arranged as in the claim. If even one element is missing, the claim is not anticipated, though it might be rendered obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103. The following analysis focuses strictly on potential anticipation.

Analysis of Prior Art Cited in U.S. Patent 7,279,708

The examiner of the '708 patent cited five prior art references. The most pertinent of these are detailed below.

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1. US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0200270 A1 (Kwak)

• Full Citation: US 2005/0200270 A1, "Electroluminescence display device," filed March 9, 2004, and published September 15, 2005. The inventor is Won-Kyu Kwak, who is also the lead inventor on the '708 patent.
• Brief Description: This application, from the same inventor and assigned to the same entity (Samsung), discloses an EL display designed to reduce contact resistance between a cathode and a power supply line. It describes using an auxiliary electrode (similar to the '708 patent's sub-conductive layer) made of the same material as the pixel electrode (anode) to connect the power line to the cathode. The primary goal is to prevent a voltage drop (IR drop) across the display.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s):
  • Claims 1 & 9: This reference is highly relevant as it teaches the core structure of using an auxiliary conductive layer to connect the power line to the second electrode. It discloses the display area with pixels, a power line, an insulating layer, and a via hole. However, a key element of claim 1—the "penetration portion"—is not explicitly described or illustrated in the '270 application. The '270 application focuses on ensuring a good electrical connection over a wide area, not on providing a path for gas to escape. Similarly, claim 9 requires a plurality of separated unit sub-conductive layers, a specific structure not taught by this reference. Therefore, while close, the '270 application does not appear to fully anticipate claims 1 or 9 because it lacks the novel gas-venting feature.
  • Claims 11 & 15: As the '270 application does not teach the structure of a "penetration portion" or "unit sub-conductive layers," it does not anticipate the method claims (11 and 15) which require the step of forming these specific features.

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2. Japanese Patent Publication No. JP2001005426A (Semiconductor Energy Lab)

• Full Citation: JP 2001-005426 A, "EL display device and electronic device," filed June 23, 1999, and published January 12, 2001. Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Brief Description: This document describes an active matrix EL display. It focuses on the layout and structure of the pixel-driving circuits and power lines. It discloses various configurations for thin-film transistors (TFTs) and electrodes within the pixel architecture.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s):
  • Claims 1, 9, 11, 15: This reference teaches the general structure of an active matrix EL display, including first and second electrodes, an EL layer, and power supply lines. However, it does not describe the specific arrangement claimed in the '708 patent for connecting the second electrode to the power supply line. Specifically, it does not disclose a "sub-conductive layer" formed over an organic insulating layer with "penetration portions" or as "separated unit sub-conductive layers" for the purpose of outgassing. The connection methods shown are more conventional. Therefore, this reference does not anticipate the independent claims of the '708 patent.

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3. Japanese Patent Publication No. JP2001076868A (Semiconductor Energy Lab)

• Full Citation: JP 2001-076868 A, "El display device and electronic device," filed June 28, 1999, and published March 23, 2001. Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Brief Description: This publication details an EL display device with a focus on improving the reliability and manufacturing process. It discusses the structure of the pixel-defining layers and the formation of the organic layers and electrodes.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s):
  • Claims 1, 9, 11, 15: Similar to the reference above, this document provides general background on the structure of EL displays. It does not, however, teach the specific structure of an intermediate "sub-conductive layer" situated on an organic insulating layer and featuring perforations or a separated structure to facilitate gas venting during fabrication. The novel elements of the '708 patent's claims are absent. Thus, it does not anticipate the independent claims.

Summary of Prior Art Relevance

The prior art cited by the examiner establishes the general state of the art for active matrix electroluminescent displays at the time of the invention. The references describe the fundamental components: substrates, TFTs, pixel electrodes, organic layers, and power lines.

However, none of the cited references appear to explicitly or inherently disclose the key inventive concept of U.S. Patent 7,279,708: the introduction of a specific structure in the sub-conductive layer to facilitate the outgassing from an underlying organic insulating layer. Claim 1 recites this structure as one or more "penetration portions," while claim 9 defines it as a plurality of "unit sub-conductive layers" that are separated from each other. The manufacturing method claims (11 and 15) are tied directly to the creation of these specific structures.

The closest reference is the inventor's own prior application, US 2005/0200270 A1, which discloses the use of a sub-conductive layer for improved electrical contact. However, it fails to teach the critical structural modification for outgassing. This distinction was likely the basis upon which the patent examiner allowed the claims of the '708 patent to issue. Therefore, based on the cited art, no single reference appears to anticipate the independent claims of US 7,279,708.

Obviousness Analysis of U.S. Patent 7,279,708 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis evaluates whether an invention claimed in U.S. Patent 7,279,708 would have been obvious to a Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art (POSA) at the time the invention was made (circa 2004-2005). An invention is obvious if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the invention as a whole would have been obvious to a POSA.

The key inventive concept in the '708 patent is the creation of vents in a sub-conductive layer to allow for the outgassing of an underlying organic insulating layer during the manufacturing of an electroluminescent (EL) display. This sub-conductive layer's primary purpose is to electrically connect a power supply line to the device's second electrode (cathode). The vents are realized either as "penetration portions" (holes) in a continuous layer (Claim 1) or as gaps between "unit sub-conductive layers" (Claim 9).

Primary Obviousness Combination: US 2005/0200270 A1 (Kwak) in view of General Knowledge of Outgassing

A strong argument for obviousness can be made by combining the teachings of the inventor's own prior art application, Kwak, with the well-established knowledge in the art regarding the problems of outgassing from organic materials during vacuum processing.

1. Scope and Content of the Prior Art:

• US 2005/0200270 A1 ("Kwak '270"): Filed over a year before the '708 patent, Kwak '270 discloses the core electrical architecture of the invention. It teaches an EL display with an "auxiliary electrode" (the '708 patent's "sub-conductive layer") that connects a power line to the cathode to reduce voltage drop. This auxiliary electrode is formed of the same material as the pixel anodes and is situated on top of an insulating layer, connecting to the power line through a via hole. Kwak '270, however, depicts this auxiliary electrode as a solid, continuous layer, making no mention of outgassing or any need for perforations.

• General Knowledge in the Art (circa 2004): It was widely known in the semiconductor and display manufacturing fields that organic materials, such as the acryl or benzocyclobutene (BCB) used for planarization/insulating layers, release trapped solvents, water vapor, and other gaseous byproducts (i.e., they "outgas") when heated or placed under vacuum. This outgassing was a known cause of manufacturing defects, such as delamination ("peeling") or "bubbling" of overlying films if the gas was trapped. The '708 patent itself acknowledges this issue in its background section.

2. Differences Between Prior Art and Claims:

The primary difference between the structure taught in Kwak '270 and the claims of the '708 patent is the modification of the sub-conductive layer to facilitate gas escape.

• Claim 1: Adds the limitation that the sub-conductive layer includes a "penetration portion."
• Claim 9: Adds the limitation that the sub-conductive layer comprises a plurality of "unit sub-conductive layers" that are "separated from each other."
• Claims 11 & 15: Recite the methods of making the structures of claims 1 and 9, respectively.

3. The Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art (POSA):

A POSA in this field would be an engineer or scientist with experience in OLED/EL display design and fabrication, including thin-film deposition, photolithography, and vacuum processing. This person would be familiar with the properties of materials used in display manufacturing, including the outgassing characteristics of organic polymers.

4. Motivation to Combine and Expectation of Success:

A POSA seeking to implement the improved electrical connection taught by Kwak '270 would recognize that placing a large, continuous auxiliary electrode over an organic insulating layer would create a new problem: it would act as a cap, trapping gas released from the organic layer during subsequent high-temperature or vacuum deposition steps. This trapped gas would foreseeably lead to defects, lower manufacturing yields, and increased processing times needed for outgassing around the edges of the layer.

Faced with this predictable problem, the motivation to modify the structure would be immediate and self-evident: to create a path for the gas to escape. The solutions claimed in the '708 patent represent simple, predictable, and obvious design choices to achieve this goal:

• Creating "penetration portions" (Claim 1): The most fundamental and common-sense method for venting a trapped gas through a barrier is to create holes in that barrier. A POSA would have found it obvious to pattern a series of holes or slits in the sub-conductive layer to allow the gas to vent vertically.
• Creating "separated" unit layers (Claim 9): An alternative, equally obvious approach would be to not form the conductive layer as a continuous sheet in the first place. By patterning it as an array of smaller, distinct pads or strips, gaps are naturally created between them, which would serve as effective channels for the gas to escape.

In both cases, there would be a high expectation of success. A POSA would know that creating such openings would relieve the gas pressure without significantly compromising the primary electrical function of the sub-conductive layer, provided the perforations or gaps were not excessively large.

Conclusion:

The independent claims of U.S. Patent 7,279,708 would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention. The prior art, particularly Kwak '270, taught the essential electrical structure. The claimed improvement—adding vents to this structure—is an obvious solution to the well-known and predictable problem of outgassing from the underlying organic insulating layer. The specific methods of venting recited in the claims (holes or separated pads) are basic, common-sense design choices that a skilled engineer would readily employ to solve this known manufacturing issue.

Term and Expiration Analysis for U.S. Patent No. 7,279,708

Filing Date: May 27, 2005
Issue Date: October 9, 2007

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) / Patent Term Extension (PTE)

A review of the prosecution history and bibliographic data for U.S. Patent No. 7,279,708 from the USPTO indicates that there were no Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) or Patent Term Extensions (PTE) granted. The patent's term was not extended due to any prosecution delays by the USPTO, nor was it eligible for extensions related to regulatory review processes (such as those granted by the FDA), which are inapplicable to this technology.

Continuity Data (Divisional or Continuation Applications)

The application that matured into the '708 patent, Application No. 11/138,323, is a standalone application. It does not claim priority to any earlier non-provisional U.S. patent applications. A search of the USPTO's records shows no continuation or divisional applications were filed that claim the benefit of the '708 patent's filing date. This means the '708 patent is not part of a chain of applications that would cause its term to be calculated from an earlier filing date.

Patent Family

This U.S. patent is part of a patent family, with corresponding applications filed in other major jurisdictions, all claiming priority to the original Korean patent application filed on May 29, 2004. The family members include:

• Korea: KR100573149B1 (Granted)
• Japan: JP4049330B2 (Granted)
• China: CN1735290B (Granted)

This international filing indicates the importance of the invention to the assignee, Samsung, in key global markets for display technology.

Projected Expiration Date

The term for a U.S. patent filed after June 8, 1995, is twenty years from the earliest non-provisional U.S. filing date.

For U.S. Patent 7,279,708:

• Filing Date: May 27, 2005
• 20-Year Term: Add 20 years to the filing date.
• Calculated Expiration: May 27, 2025

The patent's term has already concluded. Maintenance fees were paid for the 4th, 8th, and 12th years, keeping the patent in force for its full term. The patent is now in the public domain.

The official status is listed as "Expired - Lifetime" in the USPTO database, with an adjusted expiration date of September 18, 2025, noted. The discrepancy between the calculated 20-year term (May 27, 2025) and the "Adjusted expiration" date listed in some public data sources (September 18, 2025) is likely due to a minor patent term adjustment that is not prominently displayed in all databases but is reflected in the final official status. However, as of today's date, May 13, 2026, the patent has expired regardless of this minor adjustment.

Defensive Disclosure: Electroluminescent Display Structures and Manufacturing Methods

Publication Date: May 13, 2026
Reference Art: U.S. Patent 7,279,708 ("the '708 patent")
Keywords: OLED, AMOLED, Outgassing, Planarization, Sub-Conductive Layer, Via Hole, Penetration Portion, Power Supply Line, Display Manufacturing, Thin Film Transistor (TFT)

This document discloses enhancements, alternative embodiments, and new applications of the core concepts described in U.S. Patent 7,279,708. The purpose of this disclosure is to place these concepts into the public domain, thereby creating prior art against subsequent patent applications for similar, incremental improvements.

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Derivatives Based on a Perforated Sub-Conductive Layer (Claim 1 Type)

1. Material & Component Substitution

Derivative 1.1: Graphene-Based Sub-Conductive Layer

• Enabling Description: The sub-conductive layer (411) is formed from a single- or few-layer sheet of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown graphene. The penetration portions (412) are created post-transfer using a femtosecond laser ablation process, which creates clean, micron-sized holes without damaging the underlying organic insulating layer (180). Graphene's atomic thinness, optical transparency, and high conductivity provide a superior alternative to ITO, especially for flexible or transparent displays. The organic insulating layer (180) is a polyimide (PI) or Parylene-C film, chosen for its high thermal stability and low outgassing properties.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph TD
      A[Second Electrode Layer - Cathode] -->|Electrical Contact| B(Sub-Conductive Layer);
      B --|> C{Graphene Sheet};
      C -- F(Laser Ablation Creates Penetration Portions);
      B --> D(Via Hole in Insulating Layer);
      D --> E[Electrode Power Supply Line];
      subgraph Substrate Layers
          E
          G[Organic Insulating Layer - Polyimide]
          H[TFT Layers]
      end
      B --"Sits on"--> G;
  

Derivative 1.2: Porous Metallic Aerogel Sub-Conductive Layer

• Enabling Description: The sub-conductive layer is fabricated from a porous metallic aerogel (e.g., gold or copper aerogel). The inherent nano-porosity of the aerogel structure serves as the "penetration portion," allowing for uniform outgassing from the entire surface of the underlying organic insulating layer (180). The aerogel is deposited via an ink-jet or aerosol jet printing process, allowing for precise patterning along the electrode power supply line (410). This method eliminates the need for a separate patterning step to create holes.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph TD
      subgraph "EL Device Stack"
          Cathode(Second Electrode Layer)
          OLED_Stack(Organic EL Unit)
          Anode(First Electrode Layer)
      end
      
      subgraph "Power Connection"
          PowerSupply[Electrode Power Supply Line]
          Insulator(Organic Insulating Layer 180)
          SubLayer(Sub-Conductive Layer - Metallic Aerogel 411)
          Via(Via Hole 182)
      end
  
      Cathode -- "Electrical Path" --> SubLayer
      SubLayer -- "Fills" --> Via
      Via -- "Exposes" --> PowerSupply
      Insulator -- "Contains" --> Via
      PowerSupply -- "Under" --> Insulator
      SubLayer -- "Over" --> Insulator
      
      subgraph "Outgassing Path"
          GasSource(Gas from Insulator 180)
          GasPath{Porous Aerogel Structure}
          Escape(To Vacuum)
      end
      
      GasSource --> |Permeates Through| GasPath
      GasPath --> Escape
  

---

2. Operational Parameter Expansion

Derivative 2.1: Cryogenic Temperature Display Application

• Enabling Description: The invention is adapted for displays operating in cryogenic environments (-150°C to -200°C), such as in superconducting electronics or deep-space instrumentation. The organic insulating layer (180) is a low-Tg (glass transition temperature) siloxane-based polymer. The sub-conductive layer (411) is a superconducting niobium nitride (NbN) film. The penetration portions (412) are critical to vent trapped cryo-gases (e.g., N2, Ar) that may be adsorbed during fabrication and can cause delamination during thermal cycling. The holes are patterned using reactive-ion etching (RIE).
• Mermaid Diagram:

  stateDiagram-v2
      [*] --> Manufacturing : Begin
      Manufacturing --> Cooling : Deploy to Cryo-Environment
      state Cooling {
          direction LR
          AdsorbedGas: Trapped N2/Ar
          Contraction: Material Shrinkage
          AdsorbedGas --> TrappedGasPressure : Gas Expands in Voids
          TrappedGasPressure --> DelaminationRisk : Stress on Layers
      }
      Cooling --> Operation
      state Operation {
          direction LR
          NbN_Superconducting: Zero Resistance in Sub-Conductive Layer
          Venting: Gas escapes via Penetration Portions (412)
          Stable: Delamination Prevented
      }
      Operation --> [*]
  

Derivative 2.2: High-Frequency Flexible Display

• Enabling Description: A flexible display designed to operate at refresh rates exceeding 240 Hz and be subjected to millions of bending cycles. The sub-conductive layer (411) is a composite of silver nanowires (AgNWs) embedded in a polyurethane matrix, providing both conductivity and flexibility. The penetration portions (412) are laser-drilled and act as mechanical stress-relief points, preventing crack propagation in the AgNW network during flexing. The entire structure is built on a flexible polyimide substrate. The high-frequency power supplied through the electrode power supply line (410) requires the sub-conductive layer to have low impedance, which is maintained by the interconnected AgNW network.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph LR
      A(High-Frequency Driver) --> B[Power Supply Line];
      B --> C{Via Hole};
      C --> D[Sub-Conductive Layer];
      subgraph "Flexible Sub-Conductive Layer (411)"
          D1(Silver Nanowire Network)
          D2(Polyurethane Matrix)
          D3(Laser-Drilled Penetration Portions)
      end
      D---D1 & D2 & D3
      D --> E[Second Electrode];
      F(Mechanical Flexing Stress) --> D3;
      D3 -- "Prevents Crack Propagation" --> D1;
  

---

3. Cross-Domain Application

Derivative 3.1: Aerospace - Self-Healing "Smart Skin" for Aircraft

• Enabling Description: The structure is re-purposed as a damage detection and self-healing skin for an aircraft fuselage. The "substrate" is the aircraft's composite body. The "organic insulating layer" is a polymer matrix containing microcapsules of a healing agent (e.g., epoxy resin and hardener). The "sub-conductive layer" is a network of conductive traces. A crack in the fuselage ruptures the microcapsules, releasing the healing agent. The same crack also breaks the sub-conductive trace. The "penetration portions" are pre-fabricated micro-reservoirs holding additional healing agent, which are released upon significant structural flex. The change in resistance is monitored to signal that damage has occurred and a healing event has been initiated.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  sequenceDiagram
      participant AircraftSkin as Smart Skin
      participant MonitoringSystem as Onboard Computer
      
      loop Health Check
          MonitoringSystem->>AircraftSkin: Send Test Current
          AircraftSkin->>MonitoringSystem: Return Resistance Value
      end
  
      Note right of AircraftSkin: Micro-crack Occurs
      AircraftSkin->>AircraftSkin: Sub-conductive trace breaks
      AircraftSkin->>AircraftSkin: Microcapsules rupture, release healing agent
      
      loop Health Check
          MonitoringSystem->>AircraftSkin: Send Test Current
          Note over AircraftSkin: High Resistance / Open Circuit
          AircraftSkin->>MonitoringSystem: Report High Resistance
      end
      
      MonitoringSystem->>AircraftSkin: Log Damage Event & Location
      Note over AircraftSkin: Healing agent cures crack
  

Derivative 3.2: Agricultural Technology - Smart Soil-Sensing Film

• Enabling Description: A biodegradable polymer film for agricultural use. The "organic insulating layer" is a polylactic acid (PLA) substrate embedded with nutrient pellets. The "sub-conductive layer" is a printed magnesium (Mg) trace that acts as a moisture sensor (resistance changes with hydration). The "penetration portions" are apertures that allow direct contact between the Mg trace and the soil. As the film biodegrades, the Mg trace corrodes, and its changing resistance, measured by a data logger, provides a real-time profile of soil moisture and the rate of film decomposition and nutrient release.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph TD
      subgraph Smart Film
          A[Mg Sub-Conductive Trace] -- Sits on --> B[PLA Insulating Layer];
          B -- Contains --> C[Nutrient Pellets];
          A -- "Has" --> D{Penetration Portions};
      end
      
      subgraph Environment
          E[Soil]
          F[Water]
      end
  
      D -- "Allows Contact" --> E;
      F -- "Hydrates" --> E;
      E -- "Corrodes" --> A;
      A -- "Resistance Change" --> G((Data Logger));
      B -- "Degrades to Release" --> C;
      C -- "Fertilizes" --> E;
  

Derivative 3.3: Consumer Electronics - Dynamic Haptic Surface

• Enabling Description: A surface for a trackpad or touchscreen that provides localized haptic feedback. The "organic insulating layer" is an electroactive polymer (EAP). The "sub-conductive layer" is patterned into an array of small, isolated pads, each connected through a via to a driving transistor (TFT). The "penetration portions" are gaps between these pads. When a voltage is applied to a pad (the "second electrode"), the EAP beneath it deforms, creating a bump or texture. The gaps (penetration portions) allow the EAP to deform without stressing adjacent, non-activated areas. This enables the creation of dynamic, high-resolution tactile patterns on the surface.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph TD
      subgraph Haptic Module
          A[TFT Array] --> B[Power Lines];
          B --> C{Via Holes};
          C --> D[Sub-Conductive Pads];
          D -- "Separated by Gaps (Penetration Portions)" --> D;
          D -- "Applies E-Field to" --> E[Electroactive Polymer Layer];
          E -- "Deforms to Create" --> F(Haptic Bump);
      end
      UserFinger -- Touches --> E;
      ControlUnit -- "Sends Signal to" --> A;
  

---

Derivatives Based on a Segmented Sub-Conductive Layer (Claim 9 Type)

4. Integration with Emerging Tech

Derivative 4.1: AI-Optimized Power Distribution

• Enabling Description: The "unit sub-conductive layers" (411'a) are individually addressable via an underlying CMOS control circuit. An AI algorithm running on a co-packaged SoC (System-on-Chip) dynamically controls the voltage supplied to each unit layer. The system uses real-time image analysis to predict which areas of the display will show high-brightness content in upcoming frames. The AI then pre-conditions the power distribution by slightly increasing the voltage to the corresponding unit sub-conductive layers, compensating for IR drop in advance and preventing localized dimming in high-load areas. The gaps between the units prevent electrical crosstalk.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  sequenceDiagram
      participant User as User
      participant AI_Controller as AI Controller
      participant CMOS_Circuit as Power Gating Circuit
      participant SubConductiveUnits as Unit Layers (411'a)
      participant OLED_Display as Display Pixels
  
      User->>AI_Controller: Views Content
      AI_Controller->>AI_Controller: Analyze next video frame (Predict high-brightness regions)
      AI_Controller->>CMOS_Circuit: Send predictive power map
      CMOS_Circuit->>SubConductiveUnits: Adjust voltage to individual units
      SubConductiveUnits->>OLED_Display: Supply pre-compensated power
      OLED_Display->>User: Display uniform, bright image
  

Derivative 4.2: IoT-Enabled Environmental Monitoring

• Enabling Description: Each "unit sub-conductive layer" (411'a) is coupled with a micro-sensor (e.g., temperature, humidity, pressure) embedded within the insulating layer (180). These sensors are powered and read out through the same power supply line (410) using a power-line communication (PLC) protocol. This creates a distributed sensor network across the non-active area of the display. An IoT module collects this data to monitor the integrity of the device's hermetic seal in real-time. A detected increase in internal humidity can trigger a preventative maintenance warning before catastrophic failure. The separation between units ensures sensor isolation.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph TD
      subgraph Display_Edge
          PSL[Power Supply Line 410]
          Insulator[Organic Insulator 180]
          Unit1[Unit Layer 411'a]
          Unit2[Unit Layer 411'a]
          Unit3[Unit Layer 411'a]
          Sensor1[Temp Sensor]
          Sensor2[Humidity Sensor]
          Sensor3[Pressure Sensor]
      end
      subgraph External
          IoT_Module[IoT Gateway]
          Cloud[Cloud Analytics]
      end
  
      PSL -- "Powers & Communicates with" --> Sensor1
      PSL -- "Powers & Communicates with" --> Sensor2
      PSL -- "Powers & Communicates with" --> Sensor3
      
      Unit1 -- "Connects to" --> PSL
      Unit2 -- "Connects to" --> PSL
      Unit3 -- "Connects to" --> PSL
      
      Insulator -- "Contains" --> Sensor1
      Insulator -- "Contains" --> Sensor2
      Insulator -- "Contains" --> Sensor3
  
      PSL -- "PLC Data" --> IoT_Module
      IoT_Module --> Cloud
  

---

5. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode

Derivative 5.1: Sacrificial Outgassing Manifold

• Enabling Description: The "unit sub-conductive layers" (411'a) are made from a material with a low sublimation temperature, such as a doped fullerenic carbon. The organic insulating layer (180) is a photodefinable polymer heavily loaded with a blowing agent. During manufacturing, after the sub-conductive units and first electrode (210) are patterned, the entire substrate is exposed to a high-intensity UV flash. This causes two simultaneous events: 1) The blowing agent in the insulator decomposes, creating a high-pressure gas release that purges the entire layer. 2) The intense energy causes the low-sublimation-temperature unit sub-conductive layers to vaporize. The final second electrode (400) is then deposited directly into the voids left by the vaporized units, forming robust, self-aligned power connections through the now-purged insulating layer. The outgassing process is deliberately and explosively completed in a single step.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph TD
      subgraph "Step 1: Deposition"
          A[Power Line 410] --> B[Insulator with Blowing Agent];
          B --> C[Sacrificial Sub-Conductive Units];
      end
      subgraph "Step 2: UV Flash Anneal"
          D(High-Intensity UV) --> B;
          D --> C;
          B -- "Decomposes, Releases Gas" --> E{Outgassing Event};
          C -- "Sublimates" --> F(Vaporization);
      end
      subgraph "Step 3: Final Deposition"
          G[Second Electrode Material] -- "Deposits into voids left by C" --> H(Direct Connection to Power Line A);
      end
      A -- Forms --> H;
  

---

Combination with Open-Source Standards

1. Combination with RISC-V for On-Panel Processing: The electroluminescence display device, manufactured using the outgassing-mitigation structures of the '708 patent, integrates a System-on-Glass (SOG) design. The thin-film transistor (TFT) layer (Fig. 2A) is fabricated to include not only the pixel-driving circuits but also a complete microcontroller core based on the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA). The electrode power supply line (410) is designed with multiple voltage rails to power both the OLED cathode (via the sub-conductive layer 411) and the RISC-V core. The penetration portions (412) in the sub-conductive layer are critical for preventing delamination of the large-area power planes required for the microcontroller, which are formed on the same organic insulating layer (180) as the pixel electrodes. This allows for on-panel image processing, such as applying demura algorithms or local dimming, without an external TCON board.

2. Combination with the Web of Things (WoT) Standard: A large-format EL display, such as for digital signage, is manufactured using the method of forming unit sub-conductive layers (411'a) as described. Each unit sub-conductive layer, in addition to supplying power, acts as a capacitive touch sensor. The array of these sensors is managed by an embedded controller that exposes its data and functions through a Web of Things (WoT) Thing Description. This allows any standard-compliant web browser or application to interact with the display's touch functionality, read sensor data (e.g., touch pressure, ambient light), and control display content using standard web protocols like HTTP and WebSockets. The physical separation of the unit layers provides the necessary electrical isolation for a high-resolution touch matrix.

3. Combination with KiCad Open-Source EDA Suite: The physical layout of the display's non-active area, including the electrode power supply line (410), the insulating layer (180) with its via hole (182), and the sub-conductive layer (411) with its penetration portions (412), is designed and simulated using the open-source KiCad Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software. Custom scripts and component libraries are developed for KiCad to model the unique properties of OLED materials and thin-film layers. A key script calculates the optimal density and placement of penetration portions to minimize outgassing time based on the defined geometry of the power line and the thermal properties of the organic insulator, making the '708 patent's manufacturing improvement accessible through an open-source design workflow.