Notice of 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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Independent claim 1 recites that Ar1 and Ar2 are independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6-50 carbon atoms comprising only a 6-membered ring. Dependent claim 4, which is directly dependent from claim 1, recites groups which have more than one 6-memebered ring, such as naphthyl and phenanthryl, which have two or three 6-membered rings, respectively. As such, claim 4 fails to further limit claim 1. It is suggested that Applicants amend independent claim 1 such that Ar1 and Ar2 comprises only 6-membered rings (plural), or some equivalent allowing for multiple C6 aryl rings.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-10, 13-15, 17-19, 23, and 25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Fuchiwaki et al. (KR-20170101350, cited on Applicants information disclosure statement, filed on 11/6/23). A machine translation of this document is included with this Office action.
Claim 1: Compound 24 of Fuchiwaki et al., which has the structure
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(page 7) anticipates formula (1) of claim 1. As applied to formula (1), compound 24 has L1 equal to a single bond, Ar1 equal to naphthyl which comprises two 6-membered rings, L2 is p-phenylene, Ar2 is phenyl, n is equal to zero, *a is connected at *2, R1-R7 are equal to hydrogen atoms, and Ar3 is equal to a C12 heteroaryl group (dibenzofuranyl).
Claim 2: In compound 24, *a is bonded to carbon atom *2, thereby anticipating claim 2.
Claim 3: In compound 24, n is equal to 0, thereby anticipating claim 3.
Claims 4 and 9: In compound 24, Ar1 and Ar2 are an unsubstituted 1-naphthyl group and an unsubstituted phenyl group, respectively, thereby anticipating claims 4 and 9.
Claims 5-8 and 10: Claims 5-8 and 10 serve to further limit the optional embodiments where Ar1 and/or Ar2 are selected from biphenyl, terphenyl, or phenanthryl groups. While compound 24 does not comprise these groups, Fuchiwaka et al. may be properly relied upon to reject claims 5-8 and 10 as these are not required to satisfy formula (1) of claim 1.
Claim 13: In compound 24, L1 and L2 are a single bond and a p-phenylene group, respectively, thereby anticipating claim 13.
Claim 14: in compound 24, R1 through R7 are each a hydrogen atom, thereby anticipating claim 14.
Claim 15: Claim 15 requires that the compound of formula (1) include at least one deuterium atom. While not shown in compound 24 above, it is understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that there would inherently be at least the natural abundance of deuterium present, meaning that any one of the hydrogen atoms would be comprised of deuterium, thereby anticipating claim 15. Claim 15 does not require that there be an amount of deuterium which is greater than the natural abundance.
Claims 17-19, 23, and 25: The compounds taught by Fuchiwaki et al., which includes compound 24, are taught as being employed in organic electroluminescent devices comprising an anode, a hole transport region, an emission layer, an electron transport region, and a cathode, wherein the compounds, including compound 24, are employed the hole transport region, more specifically, in a hole transport layer of the hole transport region (see the working examples). The device examples further include a fluorescent dopant (TBP) and the devices taught therein are themselves electronic devices comprising the organic electroluminescent device, as the devices taught therein are required to have additional structural elements such as, but not limited to, a substrate, thereby anticipating claims 17-19, 23, and 25.
Claims 1-13, 15-18, 23, and 25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sun et al. (CN-108359445, cited on Applicants information disclosure statement, filed on 7/11/22). A machine translation of this document is included with this Office action.
Claim 1: Sun et al. teaches compound 19 which has the structure
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(page 4). This compound anticipates formula (1) of claim 1. As applied to formula (1) compound 19 has L1 and L2 are both single bonds, Ar1 and Ar2 are both unsubstituted phenyl, variable n is equal to 0, *a is bonded to carbon atom *2, Ar3 is unsubstituted phenyl, R1-R4 and R7 are hydrogen atoms, and R5 and R6 are bonded to each other to form the unsubstituted ring structure
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.
Claim 2: In compound 19, *a is bonded to carbon atom *2, thereby anticipating claim 2.
Claim 3: In compound 19, n is equal to 0, thereby anticipating claim 3.
Claims 4 and 9: In compound 19, Ar1 and Ar2 are an unsubstituted phenyl group, respectively, thereby anticipating claims 4 and 9.
Claims 5-8 and 10: Claims 5-8 and 10 serve to further limit the optional embodiments where Ar1 and/or Ar2 are selected from biphenyl, terphenyl, or phenanthryl groups. While compound 19 does not comprise these groups, Sun et al. may be properly relied upon to reject claims 5-8 and 10 as these are not required to satisfy formula (1) of claim 1.
Claims 11 and 12: In compound 19, Ar3 is an unsubstituted phenyl group, thereby anticipating claims 11 and 12.
Claim 13: In compound 19, L1 and L2 are a single bond, respectively, thereby anticipating claim 13.
Claims 15 and 16: Claims 15 and 16 require that the compound of formula (1) include at least one deuterium atom. While not shown in compound 19 above, it is understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that there would inherently be at least the natural abundance of deuterium present, meaning that any one of the hydrogen atoms would be comprised of deuterium, thereby anticipating claims 15 and 16. Claims 15 and 16 do not require that there be an amount of deuterium which is greater than the natural abundance.
Claims 17, 18, 23, and 25: The compounds taught by Sun et al., which includes compound 19, are taught as being employed in organic electroluminescent devices comprising an anode, a hole transport region, an emission layer, an electron transport region, and a cathode, wherein the compounds, including compound 19, is employed in the emission layer (see the working examples). The device examples further include a fluorescent dopant (DPAP-DPPA) and the devices taught therein are themselves electronic devices comprising the organic electroluminescent device, as the devices taught therein are required to have additional structural elements such as, but not limited to, a substrate, thereby anticipating claims 17, 18, 23, and 25.
Claims 1-13, 15-18, 23, and 25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Je et al. (KR-20110016047, cited on Applicants information disclosure statement, filed on 7/11/22). A machine translation of this document is included with this Office action.
Claim 1: Je et al. teaches compound H69 which has the structure
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(page 12). This compound anticipates formula (1) of claim 1. As applied to formula (1), compound H69 has L1 and L2 are both single bonds, Ar1 and Ar2 are both unsubstituted phenyl, variable n is equal to 0, *a is bonded to carbon atom *2, Ar3 is unsubstituted phenyl, R1-R4 and R7 are hydrogen atoms, and R5 and R6 are bonded to each other to form the unsubstituted ring structure
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.
Claim 2: In compound H69, *a is bonded to carbon atom *2, thereby anticipating claim 2.
Claim 3: In compound H69, n is equal to 0, thereby anticipating claim 3.
Claims 4 and 9: In compound H69, Ar1 and Ar2 are an unsubstituted phenyl group, respectively, thereby anticipating claims 4 and 9.
Claims 5-8 and 10: Claims 5-8 and 10 serve to further limit the optional embodiments where Ar1 and/or Ar2 are selected from biphenyl, terphenyl, or phenanthryl groups. While compound 19 does not comprise these groups, Je et al. may be properly relied upon to reject claims 5-8 and 10 as these are not required to satisfy formula (1) of claim 1.
Claims 11 and 12: In compound H69, Ar3 is an unsubstituted phenyl group, thereby anticipating claims 11 and 12.
Claim 13: In compound H69, L1 and L2 are a single bond, respectively, thereby anticipating claim 13.
Claims 15 and 16: Claims 15 and 16 require that the compound of formula (1) include at least one deuterium atom. While not shown in compound H69 above, it is understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that there would inherently be at least the natural abundance of deuterium present, meaning that any one of the hydrogen atoms would be comprised of deuterium, thereby anticipating claims 15 and 16. Claims 15 and 16 do not require that there be an amount of deuterium which is greater than the natural abundance.
Claims 17, 18, 24, and 25: The compounds taught by Je et al., which includes compound H69, are taught as being employed in organic electroluminescent devices comprising an anode, a hole transport region, an emission layer, an electron transport region, and a cathode, wherein the compounds, including compound H69, is employed in the emission layer (see the working examples). The device examples further include a phosphorescent dopant [Ir(ppy)3] and the devices taught therein are themselves electronic devices comprising the organic electroluminescent device, as the devices taught therein are required to have additional structural elements such as, but not limited to, a substrate, thereby anticipating claims 17, 18, 24, and 25.
Claims 1-11, 13, 15-20, 22, 23, and 25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kim et al. (CN-107686484, cited on Applicants information disclosure statement, filed on 7/11/22). A machine translation of this document is included with this Office action.
Claim 1: Kim et al. teaches compound 71 which has the structure
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(page 31). This compound anticipates formula (1) of claim 1. As applied to formula (1), compound 71 has L1 and L2 are both single bonds, Ar1 and Ar2 are both unsubstituted phenyl, variable n is equal to 0, *a is bonded to carbon atom *2, Ar3 is a phenanthryl-substituted phenyl, R3-R7 are hydrogen atoms, and R1 and R2 are bonded to each other to form the unsubstituted ring structure
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Claim 2: In compound 71, *a is bonded to carbon atom *2, thereby anticipating claim 2.
Claim 3: In compound 71, n is equal to 0, thereby anticipating claim 3.
Claims 4 and 9: In compound 71, Ar1 and Ar2 are an unsubstituted phenyl group, respectively, thereby anticipating claims 4 and 9.
Claims 5-8 and 10: Claims 5-8 and 10 serve to further limit the optional embodiments where Ar1 and/or Ar2 are selected from biphenyl, terphenyl, or phenanthryl groups. While compound 19 does not comprise these groups, Kim et al. may be properly relied upon to reject claims 5-8 and 10 as these are not required to satisfy formula (1) of claim 1.
Claim 11: In compound 71, Ar3 is a unsubstituted phenyl group, thereby anticipating claim 11.
Claim 13: In compound 71, L1 and L2 are a single bond, respectively, thereby anticipating claim 13.
Claims 15 and 16: Claims 15 and 16 require that the compound of formula (1) include at least one deuterium atom. While not shown in compound 71 above, it is understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that there would inherently be at least the natural abundance of deuterium present, meaning that any one of the hydrogen atoms would be comprised of deuterium, thereby anticipating claims 15 and 16. Claims 15 and 16 do not require that there be an amount of deuterium which is greater than the natural abundance.
Claims 17-19, 23, and 25: Device example 10 of Kim et al. is an organic electroluminescent device comprising an anode, a hole transport region, an emission layer, an electron transport region, and a cathode, wherein compound 71 is employed in the hole transport layer. The device examples further include a fluorescent dopant (t-bu-perylene) and the devices taught therein are themselves electronic devices comprising the organic electroluminescent device, as the devices taught therein are required to have additional structural elements such as, but not limited to, a substrate, thereby anticipating claims 17-19, 23, and 25.
Claims 20 and 22: The hole transport region of device example 10 consists of a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer consisting of compound 71, and a buffer layer comprising TCTA. It can be said that TCTA, being part of the hole transport region, can be referred to as a second hole transport layer, especially due to compound TCTA being a very well-known hole transport material. Therefore, device example 10 further anticipates claim 20 which requires a first and a second hole transport layer, and claim 22, which requires that the second hole transport layer be located adjacent to the light-emitting layer.
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 of this title, 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.
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.
Claim 24 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (CN-107686484) as applied to claim 18 above.
While device example 10 of Kim et al. does not include a phosphorescent dopant, the overall teachings of Kim et al. state that both fluorescent and phosphorescent dopants may be employed in the emission layer (bottom of page 6 of the machine translation). As such, the inclusion of a phosphorescent dopant in an electroluminescent device is prima facie obvious, thereby satisfying claim 24.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 21 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Claim 21 requires that the compound of formula (1) is employed in an organic electroluminescent device comprising a first and a second hole transporting layer, wherein the compound of formula (1) is employed in the second hole transporting layer. The prior art references above do not teach or fairly suggest devices which satisfy claim 21. The prior art references to Hyun et al. (KR-20180042943) and (Hyun et al.) KR 20180096458, both of which are cited in Applicants information disclosure statement, filed on 7/11/22, are the closest prior art teachings regarding the device of claim 21. The compounds taught in these two documents, while similar to formula (1) are mutually exclusive from formula (1) as they are required to have groups which are not recited in formula (1) of claim 1.
Relevant Art Cited
Additional prior art documents which are relevant to Applicants invention can be found on the attached PTO-892 form.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT S LOEWE whose telephone number is (571)270-3298. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Randy Gulakowski, can be reached at telephone number 571-272-1302. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Robert S Loewe/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1766