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 amendments
The amendments filed 10/01/2025 have been entered. Accordingly claims 1-3, 5-12 and 14-20 remain pending.
Response to arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 10/01/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant firstly argues (pages 5-6):
“In the rejection of claims 4 and 13, the examiner acknowledged that the combination of Omer and Sadhna fails to describe that the film of reduced graphene oxide comprises a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide. Office Action, pp. 15, 20. However, the Examiner alleged that this feature is taught by Garrido. In particular, the examiner cited paragraphs [0013] and [0022] of Garrido. Garrido only teaches in paragraph [0013] that "a stack of rGO flakes" is better than "an atomic monolayer of carbon (single layer graphene)". Garrido does not teach a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide, as required by claim 4, or how a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide would compare with the described "stack of rGO flakes" or the "single layer graphene." Further, a person skilled in the art is likely to interpret Garrido as teaching that a stack of rGO flakes is better than a single-layered reduced graphene oxide.
Garrido further teaches in paragraph [0022] that rGO films can be "optionally attached to additional conductive materials or supports, such as a Single Layered Graphene (SLG), few layer or multiplayer graphene (FLG, MLG), as well as other conductive substrates such as metals, like indium tin oxide, platinum or gold". This language may suggest to a person skilled in the art that the combination of rGO and graphene may be better than rGO alone. Nevertheless, this paragraph is also silent regarding a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide.
None of the passages cited by the examiner refer to a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide or teach the technical benefits associated with such structure. Therefore, contrary to the examiner's allegation, there is no reason to combine Garrido with Omer and Sadhna to arrive at the claimed film of reduced graphene oxide that comprises a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide, as required by claims 1, 11, 15 and 18.
Some non-limiting advantages of the plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide are described in paragraph [0033] of the published application, as shown below.
‘Advantageously, the single-layered reduced graphene oxide may react with the ionic liquid more efficiently. The ionic liquid comprises cations and anions. When a bias voltage is applied between the electrode and the film of reduced graphene oxide, ions flowing to the film of reduced graphene oxide may intercalate the single-layered reduced graphene oxide more rapidly than bi-layered or multi-layered reduced graphene oxide.’
Therefore, the thermal material may have a lower response time and a higher performance than a material using bi-layered or multi-layered reduced
graphene oxide.
These technical benefits are not taught or suggested by Garrido.”
However Examiner respectfully disagrees because rGO flake are known to the art to be single layer as seen in figure 1A/1B of Garrido (figure description [0038]), and disclosed by Garrido “a first aspect of the disclosure relates to a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) film having a total thickness from 20 nm to 5 micrometer, which comprises a stack of rGO layers comprising flakes,” [0019], Garrido provides area coverage through stacking of the flakes “stable thin films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) comprising a stack of rGO flakes” [0013], creating such a single layer of stacked rGO coverage in order to enhance the fundamental electrical properties/uses of graphene layers “Additionally, because of their high conductivity and charge injection capacity, the devices comprising the rGO materials of the disclosure can be miniaturized (e.g. diameter lower than about 10 μm and thickness lower than about 1 μm), thereby extending their functionality” Garrido [0016],
As obvious to Omer as already modified, the fundamental electrical properties/uses of graphene are known to individuals of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed (see Garrido above [0016]), this is consistent with the known physics and processing limitations as described by Chen (US 2012/0214172) who points out the obvious nature of a single continuous layer(s) of graphene as most efficient (stacking providing processing and robustness enhancement) and how imperfections therein the graphene during processing/application necessitate other forms of creating/applying the graphene to include rGO -“Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice, has potential applications in the electrical detection of biological species due to their unique physical properties. Graphene-based sheets are flat and large in lateral dimensions, which make it easier for device fabrication (e.g., making electrical contact with electrodes). Compared to CNTs, graphene-based sheets have a higher carrier mobility and specific surface area, which enhances the sensor performance. The use of graphene has been explored for various applications. For example, large-sized graphene film FETs were fabricated for the electrical detection of DNA hybridization; graphene oxide (GO) was used in single-bacterium and label-free DNA sensors, and electrolyte-gated graphene FETs was used for electrical detection of pH. Despite the sparse demonstration of graphene for biosensing applications, graphene-based FETs have not been reported for detection of protein binding (e.g., antibody to antigen) events. Methods of directly immobilizing proteins onto CNTs or graphene oxide have been shown to be unstable and the attached proteins can be readily removed through simple washing processes that are frequently used during the biosensor fabrication. This introduces undesirable effects such as poor device reliability/repeatability and non-specificity of the sensor.
Graphene oxide (GO) is a graphene-based material which can be mass-produced at a lower cost compared to pure graphene. GO can be synthesized in large quantities by oxidizing inexpensive graphite powders using strong oxidants. While unreduced GO is insulating, reducing the GO partially allows the GO to be more conductive. However, the electronic properties of reduced GO are not as good as those of pure graphene. GO can also be reduced through different methods with tailored properties by controlling the reduction conditions. The use of metal nitride/graphene nanohybrid sheets may also provide a highly efficient, low-cost, specific electrocatalyst that may be used as the conducting channel in the FET-based biosensor.” Chen [0038-0039].
Because the optimum form of graphene for electrical performance is a single flawless continues sheet, it would have been obvious to someone with ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to Routinely Optimize the rGO to be of single layer(s) within the finite range of known and predictable processing and structuring options oriented to producing and apply graphene layers with ease and of efficiency of resultant product (see MPEP 2144.05 II. B.).
Therefore the rejection is maintained.
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 1-3, 5, 7-12 and 14-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Omer (NPL) in view of Sadhna (NPL) and Garrido (US 2022/0144644).
Regarding claim 1, Omer discloses a thermal material comprising:
(a) an electrode (graphene and gold act as electrodes to either side of the thermal material “(a) Schematic drawing of the active thermal surface consisting of a multilayer-graphene electrode, a porouspolyethylene membrane soaked with a RTIL, and a back gold-electrode coated on heat resistive nylon.” (page 2, top of page, -description of figure 1));
(b) a film of
(c) a porous membrane (“Polyethylene membrane”, abbreviated “PE”, see figure 1 at subsections a and b) that is sandwiched between the electrode and the film of b of figure 1); and
(d) an ionic liquid (abbreviated as “IL” in figure 1 subsections a and b) that is disposed within pores of the porous membrane (as shown in subsection b of figure 2).
Omer is silent regarding the graphene being reduced graphene oxide.
However Sadhna teaches the use of reduced graphene oxide in replacement to graphene in applications of electrodes and light transmission ( “Graphene oxide possesses 2-D structure and various oxygen functionalities such as hydroxyl, epoxy, carbonyl and carboxyl groups on its basal plane and on the edges. These functionalities make GO dispersible in water. GO is inexpensive, can be synthesized without any hassle and is easy to handle. The electrical conductivity of GO is low, but being optically transparent, it can be used as a good current collector in solar cells. The conductivity of GO is practically improved by the removal of oxygen functionalities which is attained by the reduction of graphene oxide. For large-scale application in energy devices, rGO can be used as a suitable alternative because of the ease of its synthesis and mass production compared to pristine graphene.” (Introduction, 3rd paragraph))
The advantage of the use of reduced graphene oxide in replacement to graphene in applications of electrodes and light transmission is to enhance optical pass through of an optical electrode while being inexpensive, easy to synthesize and easy to handle “These functionalities make GO dispersible in water. GO is inexpensive, can be synthesized without any hassle and is easy to handle. The electrical conductivity of GO is low, but being optically transparent, it can be used as a good current collector in solar cells. The conductivity of GO is practically improved by the removal of oxygen functionalities which is attained by the reduction of graphene oxide. For large-scale application in energy devices, rGO can be used as a suitable alternative because of the ease of its synthesis and mass production compared to pristine graphene.” (Introduction, 3rd paragraph).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer and Sadhna before him or her, to modify the graphene of Omer to include the reduced graphene oxide of Sadhna, because it is known to replace graphene with reduced graphene oxide in the art of optical electrodes to enhance optical transmission while being inexpensive, easy to synthesize and easy to handle.
Regarding claim 2, Omer discloses the thermal material of claim 1, Omer further discloses wherein the electrode comprises gold (gold as shown in figure 1), copper, silver, titanium, platinum, tungsten or combinations thereof.
Regarding claim 3, Omer discloses the thermal material of claim 1, Omer further discloses wherein the electrode has a thickness in the range of 10 nm to 2000 nm (thickness of the gold electrode layer is exampled to 25 μm “We placed the PE membrane on the gold coatednylon. “To fabricate thegold electrode, we evaporated 5 nm Ti adhesive layer and 100nm Au layer on 25 μm thick heat resistive nylon using thermal” (last paragraph of page 6 to first paragraph page 7) however optimization of any electrode thickness is inherently relative to thickness enabling current, thickness of electrode is further anticipated in view of the reflective nature of the gold and the ability to reduce background radiation such that changes to thickness would be obvious under Routine Optimization (see MPEP 2144.05 II. Routine Optimization) -support to requirements of the thermal camouflages environment in reducing background radiation/providing reflectance as applicable to gold electrode “The thermal radiation emitted by the device mainly originates from the top graphene electrode because the emissivity of gold-coated substrate is very low (<0.01) due to its highly reflective nature and IR transparency of the PE membrane. The gold electrode also prevents transmission of the background thermal radiation. Figure 1b illustrates the working principle of the active thermal surface.” (page 2, column 1, second paragraph)).
Regarding claim 5, Mer as modified teaches the thermal material of claim 1, Omer as modified is silent regarding wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide has a thickness in the range of 100 nm to 2000 nm
However Garrido teaches wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide has a thickness in the range of 100 nm to 2000 nm (20nm-5000nm layer thickness anticipated “the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) films of the disclosure have a total thickness from 20 nm to 5 micrometer.” [0070]).
The advantage of wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide has a thickness in the range of 100 nm to 2000 nm, is to provide single layer rGO electrodes for electronics, the single layer rGO electrode exhibiting low interfacial impedance, extremely high charge injection limit, outstanding stability, of a film that is highly porous “The inventors have developed stable thin films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) comprising a stack of rGO flakes, which show a significantly increased electrochemical active surface area compared to an atomic monolayer of carbon (single layer graphene). As a result, these rGO films are capable of providing high charge injection properties in an efficient and consistent manner for the duration of its functional lifetime. These graphene materials may be used in the fabrication of electronic devices, such as microelectrodes, which exhibit low interfacial impedance (Z), extremely high charge injection limit (CIL), and outstanding stability. These rGO films are highly porous.” [0013].
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer as modified and Garrido before him or her, to modify the rGO of Omer to include single layer rGO of Garrido, because the single layer rGO electrode provides to electronics a low interfacial impedance, extremely high charge injection limit, outstanding stability, of a film that is highly porous.
Regarding claim 7, Omer as modified teaches the thermal material of claim 1, Omer as modified is silent regarding wherein the porous membrane has a pore size in the range of 10 nm to 1000 nm.
However it would be obvious to provide the membrane with any range of porosity within the finite range of porosities that permit ionic flow (and or filtering of graphene oxide therethrough as modified by Garrido in claim 12) while at an upper end of porosity performing retention of the ionic fluid, see MPEP 2144.05 II. B. Routine Optimization.
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer as modified and in view further view of Garrido, to provide the porosity of the porous membrane to between 10nm and 1000nm, because the porosity of membrane can only functionally exist within a finite range between a lower end of porosity that is permitting to flow of ionic fluid or graphene oxide (Garrido) and at an upper end of porosity that permits the retention of ionic fluid between electrodes, the porosity’s being functional through a finite range that is obvious to routine experimentation.
Regarding claim 8, Omer as modified teaches the thermal material of claim 1, Omer as modified is silent regarding wherein the porous membrane has a thickness of at least 10 pm.
However it would be obvious to provide the thickness of the porous membrane to at least 10pm in view of MPEP 2144.05 II. B. Routine Optimization, because the range of thickness of the porous membrane is necessarily selected from the finite range of a minimum thickness that allows operation of an amount of ionic fluid to move from porous medium to graphene layer to effectively perform thermal transmissivity regulation (“we introduce a new gating scheme using an inverse device structure, which leads intercalation of a nonvolatile ionic liquid into graphene layers from the porous substrate.” (page 2, first paragraph)) and at a maximum thickness of diminishing returns to thermal transmissivity in view of application as a light weight coating to flexible environment (“The demonstrated devices are light (30 g/m2), thin (<50 μm), and ultraflexible, which can conformably coat their environment.” (abstract)).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer as modified, to provide the thickness of the porous membrane to 10pm or more, because the porous membrane size can only functionally exist within a finite range, of which a minimum is based on ionic fluid capacity of the graphene layer and a maximum is based on diminishing returns and the devices functionality of which are obvious to routine experimentation.
Regarding claim 9, Omer discloses the thermal material of claim 1, Omer further discloses wherein the ionic liquid is 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (DEME being 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate is included to ionic liquid “Fabrication of Active Thermal Surfaces. After the transferprocess, we injected room-temperature ionic liquid electrolyte[DEME][TFSI] (98.5%, diethylmethyl(2-methoxyethyl)-ammoniumbis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide,” (page 6, last paragraph)).
Regarding claim 10, Omer discloses the thermal material of claim 1, Omer futher discloses wherein the electrode and the porous membrane are flexible (“The demonstrated devices are light (30 g/m2), thin (<50 μm), and ultraflexible, which can conformably coat their environment.” (abstract)).
Regarding claim 11, Omer discloses a method of preparing a thermal material, comprising the steps of:
(a) disposing a film of
(b) adding an electrode (gold, figure 1) on a second side of the porous membrane (as shown in figure 1b), the second side being opposite to the first side of the porous membrane (as shown in figure 1b); and
(c) filling pores of the porous membrane with an ionic liquid (IL figure 1).
Omer is silent regarding the graphene being reduced graphene oxide.
However Sadhna teaches the use of reduced graphene oxide in replacement to graphene in applications of electrodes and light transmission ( “Graphene oxide possesses 2-D structure and various oxygen functionalities such as hydroxyl, epoxy, carbonyl and carboxyl groups on its basal plane and on the edges. These functionalities make GO dispersible in water. GO is inexpensive, can be synthesized without any hassle and is easy to handle. The electrical conductivity of GO is low, but being optically transparent, it can be used as a good current collector in solar cells. The conductivity of GO is practically improved by the removal of oxygen functionalities which is attained by the reduction of graphene oxide. For large-scale application in energy devices, rGO can be used as a suitable alternative because of the ease of its synthesis and mass production compared to pristine graphene.” (Introduction, 3rd paragraph))
The advantage of the use of reduced graphene oxide in replacement to graphene in applications of electrodes and light transmission is to enhance optical pass through of an optical electrode while being inexpensive, easy to synthesize and easy to handle “These functionalities make GO dispersible in water. GO is inexpensive, can be synthesized without any hassle and is easy to handle. The electrical conductivity of GO is low, but being optically transparent, it can be used as a good current collector in solar cells. The conductivity of GO is practically improved by the removal of oxygen functionalities which is attained by the reduction of graphene oxide. For large-scale application in energy devices, rGO can be used as a suitable alternative because of the ease of its synthesis and mass production compared to pristine graphene.” (Introduction, 3rd paragraph).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer and Sadhna before him or her, to modify the graphene of Omer to include the reduced graphene oxide of Sadhna, because it is known to replace graphene with reduced graphene oxide in the art of optical electrodes to enhance optical transmission while being inexpensive, easy to synthesize and easy to handle.
Regarding claim 12, the method of claim 11, wherein the disposing step (a) comprises:
(a1) filtering a dispersion of graphene oxide through the porous membrane to form a film of graphene oxide on the porous membrane; and
(a2) reducing the film of graphene oxide to form a film of reduced graphene oxide.
However Garrido teaches (a1) filtering a dispersion of graphene oxide through the porous membrane to form a film of graphene oxide on the porous membrane; and
(a2) reducing the film of graphene oxide to form a film of reduced graphene oxide.
The advantage of (a1) filtering a dispersion of graphene oxide through the porous membrane to form a film of graphene oxide on the porous membrane; and
(a2) reducing the film of graphene oxide to form a film of reduced graphene oxide, is to provide electrodes for electronics that exhibit low interfacial impedance, extremely high charge injection limit, outstanding stability, and a film that is highly porous “The inventors have developed stable thin films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) comprising a stack of rGO flakes, which show a significantly increased electrochemical active surface area compared to an atomic monolayer of carbon (single layer graphene). As a result, these rGO films are capable of providing high charge injection properties in an efficient and consistent manner for the duration of its functional lifetime. These graphene materials may be used in the fabrication of electronic devices, such as microelectrodes, which exhibit low interfacial impedance (Z), extremely high charge injection limit (CIL), and outstanding stability. These rGO films are highly porous.” [0013] and transparent “In one embodiment, optionally in combination with one or more features of the various embodiments described above or below, the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) film has a total thickness from 500 to 2000 nm or from 25 nm to 1 micrometer, or from 25 to 500 nm, or from 25 to 200 nm. This thickness results in a transparent material and provides a further advantage in some applications since the interface between the transparent electrode and the tissue can be observed by optical techniques.” [0071].
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer as modified and Garrido before him or her, to modify the rGO of Omer to include single layer rGO processing steps of Garrido, because the single layer rGO provides electrodes for electronics that exhibit low interfacial impedance, extremely high charge injection limit, outstanding stability, and a film that is highly porous and transparent.
Regarding claim 14, Omer discloses the method of claim 11, Omer further discloses wherein the filling step (c) is undertaken by exposing the porous membrane to the ionic liquid (as shown in figure 1b).
Regarding claim 15, Omer discloses a method of changing an article's apparent temperature, comprising the steps of:
(a) coating a surface of the article with a thermal material (thermal material applied as coating to article “The demonstrated devices are light (30 g/m2), thin (<50 μm), and ultraflexible, which can conformably coat their environment.” (abstract)), the thermal material comprising:
(i) an electrode (gold, figure 1);
(ii) a film of
(iii) a porous membrane (PE, figure 1) that is sandwiched between the electrode and the film of reduced graphene oxide (as shown in figure 1); and
(iv) an ionic liquid (IL, figure 1) that is disposed within pores of the porous membrane (as shown in figure 1); and
(b) applying a bias voltage (electrical circuit between graphene and gold electrodes shown in figure 1) between the electrode of the thermal material and the film of
Omer is silent regarding the graphene being reduced graphene oxide.
However Sadhna teaches the use of reduced graphene oxide in replacement to graphene in applications of electrodes and light transmission ( “Graphene oxide possesses 2-D structure and various oxygen functionalities such as hydroxyl, epoxy, carbonyl and carboxyl groups on its basal plane and on the edges. These functionalities make GO dispersible in water. GO is inexpensive, can be synthesized without any hassle and is easy to handle. The electrical conductivity of GO is low, but being optically transparent, it can be used as a good current collector in solar cells. The conductivity of GO is practically improved by the removal of oxygen functionalities which is attained by the reduction of graphene oxide. For large-scale application in energy devices, rGO can be used as a suitable alternative because of the ease of its synthesis and mass production compared to pristine graphene.” (Introduction, 3rd paragraph))
The advantage of the use of reduced graphene oxide in replacement to graphene in applications of electrodes and light transmission is to enhance optical pass through of an optical electrode while being inexpensive, easy to synthesize and easy to handle “These functionalities make GO dispersible in water. GO is inexpensive, can be synthesized without any hassle and is easy to handle. The electrical conductivity of GO is low, but being optically transparent, it can be used as a good current collector in solar cells. The conductivity of GO is practically improved by the removal of oxygen functionalities which is attained by the reduction of graphene oxide. For large-scale application in energy devices, rGO can be used as a suitable alternative because of the ease of its synthesis and mass production compared to pristine graphene.” (Introduction, 3rd paragraph).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer and Sadhna before him or her, to modify the graphene of Omer to include the reduced graphene oxide of Sadhna, because it is known to replace graphene with reduced graphene oxide in the art of optical electrodes to enhance optical transmission while being inexpensive, easy to synthesize and easy to handle.
Omer is silent regarding wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide comprises a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide.
However Garrido teaches wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide comprises a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide (plurality of single layer flakes of rGO “stable thin films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) comprising a stack of rGO flakes” [0013] and or rGO as part of single layer graphene “In order to improve the capacitive properties of the rGO films of the disclosure, they can be optionally attached to additional conductive materials or supports, such as a Single Layer Graphene (SLG)” [0022]).
The advantage of wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide comprises a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide, is to provide electrodes for electronics that exhibit low interfacial impedance, extremely high charge injection limit, outstanding stability, and a film that is highly porous “The inventors have developed stable thin films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) comprising a stack of rGO flakes, which show a significantly increased electrochemical active surface area compared to an atomic monolayer of carbon (single layer graphene). As a result, these rGO films are capable of providing high charge injection properties in an efficient and consistent manner for the duration of its functional lifetime. These graphene materials may be used in the fabrication of electronic devices, such as microelectrodes, which exhibit low interfacial impedance (Z), extremely high charge injection limit (CIL), and outstanding stability. These rGO films are highly porous.” [0013] and transparent “In one embodiment, optionally in combination with one or more features of the various embodiments described above or below, the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) film has a total thickness from 500 to 2000 nm or from 25 nm to 1 micrometer, or from 25 to 500 nm, or from 25 to 200 nm. This thickness results in a transparent material and provides a further advantage in some applications since the interface between the transparent electrode and the tissue can be observed by optical techniques.” [0071].
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer as modified and Garrido before him or her, to modify the rGO of Omer to include single layer rGO of Garrido, because the single layer rGO provides electrodes for electronics that exhibit low interfacial impedance, extremely high charge injection limit, outstanding stability, and a film that is highly porous and transparent.
Regarding claim 16, Omer discloses the method of claim 15, Omer further discloses wherein the bias voltage is 3 V (3v operation at “However, at 3 V the emissivity of the device is significantly suppressed, which screens the background temperature profile (Movie S1).” (page 2, second column first paragraph)).
Regarding claim 17, Omer discloses the method of claim 15, Omer further discloses further comprising a step of reversing the bias voltage to drive anions of the ionic liquid to the electrode (reverse charge imbalancing “When we apply negative bias voltage, thecharge imbalance is reversed (Figure 3d).” (page 4, first paragraph)).
Regarding claim 18, Omer discloses a device comprising:
(a) an article (article of environment/article to which thermal device is placed/coated to “The demonstrated devices are light (30 g/m2), thin (<50 μm), and ultraflexible, which can conformably coat their environment.” (abstract));
(b) a thermal material coated on a surface of the article (as disclosed above (abstract)), the thermal material comprising:
(i) an electrode (Gold, figure 1);
(ii) a film of
(iii) a porous membrane (PE, figure 1) that is sandwiched between the electrode and the film of reduced graphene oxide; and
(iv) an ionic liquid (IL, figure 1) that is disposed within pores of the porous membrane (as shown in figure 1); and
(c) a power supply (power supply of electric circuit electrodes (gold/MLG) as shown in figure 1) connected to the thermal material (as shown in figure 1).
Omer is silent regarding the graphene being reduced graphene oxide.
However Sadhna teaches the use of reduced graphene oxide in replacement to graphene in applications of electrodes and light transmission ( “Graphene oxide possesses 2-D structure and various oxygen functionalities such as hydroxyl, epoxy, carbonyl and carboxyl groups on its basal plane and on the edges. These functionalities make GO dispersible in water. GO is inexpensive, can be synthesized without any hassle and is easy to handle. The electrical conductivity of GO is low, but being optically transparent, it can be used as a good current collector in solar cells. The conductivity of GO is practically improved by the removal of oxygen functionalities which is attained by the reduction of graphene oxide. For large-scale application in energy devices, rGO can be used as a suitable alternative because of the ease of its synthesis and mass production compared to pristine graphene.” (Introduction, 3rd paragraph))
The advantage of the use of reduced graphene oxide in replacement to graphene in applications of electrodes and light transmission is to enhance optical pass through of an optical electrode while being inexpensive, easy to synthesize and easy to handle “These functionalities make GO dispersible in water. GO is inexpensive, can be synthesized without any hassle and is easy to handle. The electrical conductivity of GO is low, but being optically transparent, it can be used as a good current collector in solar cells. The conductivity of GO is practically improved by the removal of oxygen functionalities which is attained by the reduction of graphene oxide. For large-scale application in energy devices, rGO can be used as a suitable alternative because of the ease of its synthesis and mass production compared to pristine graphene.” (Introduction, 3rd paragraph).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer and Sadhna before him or her, to modify the graphene of Omer to include the reduced graphene oxide of Sadhna, because it is known to replace graphene with reduced graphene oxide in the art of optical electrodes to enhance optical transmission while being inexpensive, easy to synthesize and easy to handle.
Omer is silent regarding wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide comprises a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide.
However Garrido teaches wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide comprises a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide (plurality of single layer flakes of rGO “stable thin films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) comprising a stack of rGO flakes” [0013] and or rGO as part of single layer graphene “In order to improve the capacitive properties of the rGO films of the disclosure, they can be optionally attached to additional conductive materials or supports, such as a Single Layer Graphene (SLG)” [0022]).
The advantage of wherein the film of reduced graphene oxide comprises a plurality of single-layered reduced graphene oxide, is to provide electrodes for electronics that exhibit low interfacial impedance, extremely high charge injection limit, outstanding stability, and a film that is highly porous “The inventors have developed stable thin films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) comprising a stack of rGO flakes, which show a significantly increased electrochemical active surface area compared to an atomic monolayer of carbon (single layer graphene). As a result, these rGO films are capable of providing high charge injection properties in an efficient and consistent manner for the duration of its functional lifetime. These graphene materials may be used in the fabrication of electronic devices, such as microelectrodes, which exhibit low interfacial impedance (Z), extremely high charge injection limit (CIL), and outstanding stability. These rGO films are highly porous.” [0013] and transparent “In one embodiment, optionally in combination with one or more features of the various embodiments described above or below, the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) film has a total thickness from 500 to 2000 nm or from 25 nm to 1 micrometer, or from 25 to 500 nm, or from 25 to 200 nm. This thickness results in a transparent material and provides a further advantage in some applications since the interface between the transparent electrode and the tissue can be observed by optical techniques.” [0071].
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer as modified and Garrido before him or her, to modify the rGO of Omer to include single layer rGO of Garrido, because the single layer rGO provides electrodes for electronics that exhibit low interfacial impedance, extremely high charge injection limit, outstanding stability, and a film that is highly porous and transparent.
Regarding claim 19, Omer discloses the device of claim 18, Omer further discloses wherein the article, the thermal material and the power supply are integral parts of the device (the article and thermal material are anticipated to be in use as a single unit system “which can conformably coat their environment. In addition, by combining active thermal surfaces with a feedback mechanism, we demonstrate realization of an adaptive thermal camouflage system which can reconfigure its thermal appearance and blend itself with the varying thermal background in a few seconds.” (abstract), single unit system are obvious to integral construction of components, see MPEP 2144.04 V, B. Making Integral).
Regarding claim 20, Omer discloses the device of claim 18, wherein the power supply applies a bias voltage (nature of power supplies) between the electrode of the thermal material and the film of reduced graphene oxide (as shown by symbols “+” and “-” of figure 1a) of the thermal material to drive anions of the ionic liquid to the film of reduced graphene oxide (as shown in figure 1b).
Claims 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Omer, Sadhna and Garrido as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of LIN (US 2020/0203675).
Regarding claim 6, Omer as modified teaches the thermal material of claim 1, Omer as modified is silent regarding wherein the porous membrane comprises polyethersulfone.
However Lin provides that the use of PE and PES membranes in use with ionic liquids/electrodes are known equivalently interchangeably (see MPEP 2144.06 II. Substituting Equivalents Known for the Same Purpose “Set forth herein are methods for manufacturing a metal-ion battery including providing an metal anode; providing a cathode; and providing an ionic liquid electrolyte”…“a polyester membrane or a polyethersulfone membrane, or other hydrophobic membrane, such as polyethylene membrane,” [0151]).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Omer as modified and Lin before him or her, to modify PE (polyethylene) membrane of Omer, with the PES (polyethersulfone) membrane of Lin, because both PE and PES membranes are known equivalently exchangeable for use as membranes dealing with ionic fluids and electrodes.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 Spencer H Kirkwood whose telephone number is (469)295-9113. The examiner can normally be reached 12:00 am - 9:00 pm Eastern.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Steven Crabb can be reached at (571) 270-5095. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Spencer H. Kirkwood/Examiner, Art Unit 3761
/STEVEN W CRABB/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3761