Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 12/19/2025 has been entered. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Elected Species
PNG
media_image1.png
428
736
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
386
700
media_image2.png
Greyscale
A search of the prior art did not show the elected species. As no claims where specifically drawn to applicants’ elected species in independent form, no claims have been indicated as allowable. Claims written in independent form which require all the limitations of the elected species along with any dependent claims which require all the limitations of the elected species would be allowable. Under MPEP 803.02, the search was expanded to find an examinable species.
Examinable Species
The examinable species are contained within a metal complex:
PNG
media_image3.png
100
412
media_image3.png
Greyscale
The metal is iridium (paragraph 37).
L1 (corresponding to applicants’ ligand LC) is represented by LA1
PNG
media_image4.png
222
134
media_image4.png
Greyscale
(page 6)
L2 (corresponding to applicants’ ligand LA) is represented by Lpg 5
PNG
media_image5.png
242
100
media_image5.png
Greyscale
(page 5)
L3 (corresponding to applicants’ ligand LB) is represented by Lpg5a
PNG
media_image6.png
166
160
media_image6.png
Greyscale
(page 5)
The examinable species reads on claims 1-2, 4, 8-10, 14, 17-18, 20 Claims 3, 5-7, 11-13, 15-16, and 19 are withdrawn from further consideration as not reading on the examinable species.
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.
Claims 1-2, 4, 8-10, 12-14, 17-18, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Boudreault (US 2015/0001472).
Regarding Claims 1-2, 4, 8-10, 12-14, Boudreault teaches an iridium complex wherein the ligands are as follows:
PNG
media_image7.png
101
414
media_image7.png
Greyscale
The metal is iridium (paragraph 37).
L1 (corresponding to applicants’ ligand LC) is represented by LA1
PNG
media_image4.png
222
134
media_image4.png
Greyscale
(page 6)
L2 (corresponding to applicants’ ligand LA) is represented by Lpg 5
PNG
media_image5.png
242
100
media_image5.png
Greyscale
(page 5)
L3 (corresponding to applicants’ ligand LB) is represented by Lpg5a
PNG
media_image6.png
166
160
media_image6.png
Greyscale
(page 5)
Z1 = N, Z1 = C; RA-RD = H; X1-X6 = Cs 1-2, 4
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of invention to have selected from the ligands taught by Boudreault which would have included the above ligands which reads on the instant limitations, absent unexpected results (per claim 1).
RA-RD = H (per claim 2)
Z1 = N, Z2 = C (per claim 4)
LA1
PNG
media_image4.png
222
134
media_image4.png
Greyscale
reads on
PNG
media_image8.png
80
88
media_image8.png
Greyscale
Ra2 and Rc2 = sec-butyl; Rb2 = H (per claim 8).
Lpg 5 reads on
PNG
media_image9.png
212
92
media_image9.png
Greyscale
and
PNG
media_image10.png
216
94
media_image10.png
Greyscale
wherein X(s) and Z(s) = C (per claims 9-10).
M(L1)x(L2)y(L3)z reads on applicants M(LA)p(LB)q(LC)r x, y, z = 1; p, q, r = 1; M = Ir3+ (per claim 12)
Ir(L1)(L2)(L3) reads on Ir(LA)(LB)(LC) (per claim 13)
L3 (corresponding to applicants’ ligand LB) is represented by Lpg5a
PNG
media_image6.png
166
160
media_image6.png
Greyscale
which reads on
PNG
media_image11.png
170
152
media_image11.png
Greyscale
Y-Y11 = C
L1 (corresponding to applicants’ ligand LC) is represented by LA1
PNG
media_image4.png
222
134
media_image4.png
Greyscale
reads on
PNG
media_image8.png
80
88
media_image8.png
Greyscale
(per claim 14)
Regarding Claims 17-18, Boudreault teaches an organic light emitting device can comprise an anode, a cathode, and an organic layer, disposed between the anode and the cathode. The organic layer can include a compound comprising the first ligand L1 having Formula I (paragraph 45). The compound is the iridium complex containing L1, L2, and L3 above (per claim 17).
The organic layer can also include a host (paragraph 49). The host can be a compound selected from the group consisting of carbazole, dibenzothiphene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, azacarbazole, aza-dibenzothiophene, aza-dibenzofuran, and aza-dibenzoselenophene (paragraph 50) (per claim 18).
Regarding Claim 20, Boudreault teaches an organic light emitting device comprising an anode, a cathode, and an organic layer, disposed between the anode and the cathode. The organic layer can include a compound comprising the first ligand L1 having Ir(L1)(L2)(L3). The first device can be a consumer product, an organic light-emitting device, and/or a lighting panel (paragraph 16) (per claim 20).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GREGORY D CLARK whose telephone number is (571)270-7087. The examiner can normally be reached on 8AM-4PM M-F.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Chriss can be reached on 571-272-7783. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/GREGORY D CLARK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1786