DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
In the response filed 01/16/2026, the claims were amended.
These amendments are hereby entered.
In light of Applicant’s amendments to the claims, the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 103 of claims 25-43, 45, and 47-48 as being unpatentable over Hatakeyama et al. (US 2018/0301629 A1), Kim (US 2016/0028014 A1), and Montenegro et al. (US 2015/0065730 A1), and of claim 46 as being unpatentable over Hatakeyama, Kim, and Montenegro above, and further in view of Hatwar et al. (US 2010/0288362 A1) are withdrawn by the Office.
Claim 25 has been amended.
Claims 25-33, 36-39, 41-43 and 45-48 are pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Claim Objections
Claims 25 and 33 are objected to because of the following informalities:
The letters, numbers, and/or bonds in the chemical formulae given in claims 25 and 33 are illegible due to poor resolution. Please correct these structures so all letters, numbers, and/or bonds are clearly visible. See the example below.
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Please note that this example is non-limiting and there may be other structures that require correction. Please check all formulae to make sure they are clear. Applicant may wish to make these structures clearer by increasing the size of the structure and/or font, making the bond lines thicker, or uploading the claims in DOCX format.
Also with respect to claim 25, “layer H2” is mistakenly upper case (i.e. “Layer H2”) in the definition of layer H2. Please make these uniform.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for 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 and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 25-33, 36-39, 41-43, 45 and 47-48 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hatakeyama et al. (US 2018/0301629 A1) and Kim et al. (US 2016/0028014 A1) and further in view of Kwon et al. (WO 2013/032304 A2, using the provided translation for references).
With respect to claim 25, Hatakeyama teaches an electronic device (an organic EL element), comprising a first electrode (a positive electrode), a second electrode (a negative electrode), and between the electrodes is an emitting layer comprising a compound of the invention (paragraph 0003), such as Compound 1-2619 (page 27) which is pictured below.
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This compound meets the requirements of instant formula (E-1) when T is boron, p is 0 and o is 1 so that two of X are present. Both of X are the same and are NRE2, wherein RE2 is an aromatic ring system having 6 ring atoms, substituted by RE4 when the RE4 radicals are a branched alkyl group having 4 carbon atoms (t-butyl). C1-C3 are the same and are a ring system having 6 ring atoms (benzene) which are substituted by RE3 radicals which are substituted by RE4 radicals. RE3 is, on two occasions a branched alkyl having 4 carbon atoms (t-butyl), and on one occasion a straight-chain alkyl having 1 carbon atom (methyl), all substituted by RE4 when RE4 represents hydrogen atoms.
Hatakeyama teaches that the devices of the invention emit blue light (paragraph 0547).
However, while Hatakeyama teaches the compound may be comprised in the emitting layer of a device with two hole transport layers (paragraph 0545 and Table 4A), Hatakeyama does not teach nor fairly suggest the claimed dual hole transport layer composition.
In analogous art, Kim teaches an organic light-emitting device including a first electrode, a second electrode, an emission layer between the electrodes, and a hole transport region between the first electrode and the emission layer (abstract) wherein the hole transport region comprises a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, and an auxiliary layer sequentially stacked from the first electrode in that order (paragraph 0048).
The hole transport layer of Kim is analogous to instantly claimed layer H1 and may comprise compound HT6, which is pictured below (paragraph 0092 and page 9).
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This compound is derived from Formula 201 (paragraph 0092), which is pictured below.
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Kim also teaches that when L202 is a spirofluorenylene group (paragraph 0061, line 2), then R202 may be a phenyl group (paragraphs 0065-0066, line 1).
Such a modification produces a compound that meets the requirements of instant formula L-1-1-1-1 when all Z characters are carbon atoms, n is 0 and Ar1 is not present, Ar2 is different in each instance and in one instance is a C6 aromatic system with an R3 substituent, and in the other instance is a C6 aromatic system with a different R3 substituent, the first R3 substituent is a C6 aromatic system, and the second R3 substituent is a C12 heteroaromatic ring system, and R1-1 is an aromatic ring system having 6 aromatic ring atoms (phenyl).
The auxiliary layer of Kim is analogous to instantly claimed layer H2 and may comprise compound 44, which is pictured below (paragraph 0197 and page 36).
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This compound meets the requirements of instant Formula L-4 when Y is an oxygen atom, m is 0 and Ar1 is not present, each Ar2 is different and on one occasion is an aromatic ring system which has 12 aromatic ring atoms (fluorene), and is substituted by R3 radicals, and on the other occasion is an aromatic ring system which has 24 aromatic ring atoms (spirobisfluorene), and R3 is a C1 alkyl (methyl) group.
Kim teaches that the hole transport region of the invention increases charge balance in the emission layer by facilitating injection of holes into the emission layer, and thus, when an organic light-emitting device includes the amine compound of the invention, the efficiency of the organic light-emitting device is increased and the roll-off phenomenon is decreased.
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the hole transport layer and auxiliary layer of Kim as the hole transport region of Hatakeyama in order to increase charge balance in the emission layer by facilitating injection of holes into the emission layer, and increasing the efficiency of the organic light-emitting device while decreasing the roll-off phenomenon, as taught by Kim.
However, neither Hatakeyama nor Kim teach a hole injection layer comprising a p-dopant and one compound of formulae (L-1).
In analogous art, Kwon teaches an organic electronic device including a compound which can improve the injection and transportation of holes in the device (paragraph 4). The layer comprising the compound is located between a first electrode and a non-doped hole transport layer and as a result, the hole mobility from the doped layer to the adjacent non-doped layer is improved, which has the effect of lowering driving voltage of the device and increasing luminous efficiency.
Kwon gives an example of the inventive hole injection material, Compound 15, which is pictured below (page 11 of the translation).
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This compound meets the requirements of instant formula L-1-1 when each Z is a carbon atom, n is 0 and Ar1 is not present, and each of Ar2 is an aromatic ring system with 12 aromatic rings (biphenyl), one of which is substituted by radical R3, wherein R3 is a heteroaromatic ring system having 13 ring-forming atoms (carbazolyl), substituted by R4, wherein R4 is an aryl group having 6 aromatic ring atoms (phenyl).
Kwon also gives an example of a suitable p-dopant which is HAT-CN (paragraphs 83-87 and Formula 3 when each R is -CN), which is pictured below.
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It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the electron injection material of Kwon between the electrode and the un-doped hole transport layer of Kim in order to increase hole mobility from the doped layer to the adjacent non-doped layer, which has the effect of lowering driving voltage of the device and increasing luminous efficiency, as taught by Kwon.
With respect to claim 26, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and T is boron, as discussed above.
With respect to claim 27, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and the X group is the same at each instance and is NRE2 as discussed above.
With respect to claim 28, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and RE2 is the same at each instance and is an aromatic ring system with 6 aromatic ring atoms each substituted by RE4 radicals, as discussed above.
With respect to claims 29 and 30, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and RE3 is, on two occasions a branched alkyl having 4 carbon atoms (t-butyl), and on one occasion a straight-chain alkyl having 1 carbon atom (methyl), each substituted by RE4, as discussed above.
With respect to claim 31, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and RE4 is, at each instance, either hydrogen, or an alkyl group having 4 carbon atoms (t-butyl), as discussed above.
With respect to claim 32, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and p is 0 and o is 1, as discussed above.
With respect to claim 33, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and the compound of formula (E-1) conforms to formula (E-1-1-1-1-2), when two of RE3-1 are a t-butyl group, RE3-2 is a methyl group, and two of RE4-1 are a t-butyl group, as pictured above.
With respect to claim 36, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and all of R1 are hydrogen atoms, R2 is not present, R3 is either a C6 aromatic system, a C12 heteroaromatic ring system, or a methyl group, and R4 is a phenyl group, as pictured above.
With respect to claim 37, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and Ar1 is not present (n is 0).
With respect to claim 38, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and each Ar2 is biphenyl, one of which is substituted by R3, as discussed above.
With respect to claim 39, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and Kim teaches that layer H2 (the auxiliary layer) adjoins the emitting layer directly on the anode side (paragraph 0048), as discussed above.
With respect to claim 41, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and Kim teaches that the electronic device comprises a hole injection layer, hole transport layer 1 (H1), an auxiliary layer (H2), an emitting layer (paragraph 0048 and Figure 1), and one or more electron transport layers (paragraph 0045 and Figure 1), laminated in that order, directly adjoining each other.
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the claimed device structure in the device of Hatakeyama, as taught by Kim.
With respect to claim 42, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and Hatakeyama also teaches that the light emitting layer comprises an anthracene matrix compound (paragraph 0065).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use an anthracene matrix compound in combination with the compound of formula (E-1) in the light emitting layer, as taught by Hatakeyama.
With respect to claim 43, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and Hatakeyama teaches the electronic device is an organic electroluminescent device (paragraph 0009).
With respect to claim 45, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and Hatakeyama teaches the cathode may be transparent and the device may emit light through the cathode (paragraph 0361, lines 5-8).
With respect to claim 47, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and Hatakeyama describes a process wherein an anode is formed, followed by a first hole transport layer, followed by a second hole transport layer, followed by an emitting layer, and later applying an anode, in that order in the manufacture of device Example 19 (paragraphs 0543-0546).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the claimed process to manufacture a device of the claimed order layer, as demonstrated by Hatakeyama.
With respect to claim 48, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, and Hatakeyama teaches the inventive organic electroluminescent element has applications as a lighting apparatus (paragraph 0061).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the electroluminescent device of Hatakeyama, Kim, and Kwon in a lighting application, as taught by Hatakeyama.
Claim 46 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hatakeyama et al. (US 2018/0301629 A1), Kim et al. (US 2016/0028014 A1) and Kwon et al. (WO 2013/032304 A2) as applied above, and further in view of Hatwar et al. (US 2010/0288362 A1).
With respect to claim 46, Hatakeyama and Kim in view of Kwon teach the device of claim 25, however, neither Hatakeyama, Kim, nor Kwon teach a tandem device with two or three identical layer sequences stacked on one another.
In analogous art, Hatwar teaches a tandem OLED device featuring an anode, a cathode, and at least two phototransducing units which are separated by an intermediate conducting region (abstract).
Hatwar teaches that each layer of the phototransducing unit may include a hole injection layer, hole transport layers, an electron blocking layer (exciton blocking layer), an emitting layer, and an electron transport layer (paragraph 0085).
Hatwar teaches that tandem OLED devices provide good luminance efficiency, good operational stability, and reduced drive voltages (paragraph 0131).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate compound (E-1) into the emitting layer, a compound of formula (L-1-1-1) into a first hole transport layer, and a second hole transport layer adjacent to the emitting layer, as taught by Hatakeyama and in view of Kim, into a tandem OLED device in order to provide good luminance efficiency, good operational stability, and reduced drive voltages, as taught by Hatwar.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated any new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RACHEL SIMBANA whose telephone number is (571)272-2657. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M..
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Boyd can be reached at 571-272-7783. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RACHEL SIMBANA/Examiner, Art Unit 1786
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