Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 29, 2026
Application No. 18/014,469

LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE AND INSOLUBLE FILM

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jan 04, 2023
Priority
Jul 07, 2020 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2020026564
Examiner
KOSACK, JOSEPH R
Art Unit
3991
Tech Center
3900
Assignee
Sharp Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
69%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
967 granted / 1292 resolved
+14.8% vs TC avg
Minimal -6% lift
Without
With
+-5.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
1307
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.9%
-38.1% vs TC avg
§103
34.3%
-5.7% vs TC avg
§102
21.0%
-19.0% vs TC avg
§112
19.8%
-20.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1292 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION Claims 1, 4-12, and 15-19 are pending in the present application. 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 . Amendments The amendment filed on May 8, 2026 has been acknowledged and has been entered into the present application. 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. The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph: Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], 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. Claims 4, 7, 15, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, 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. Claims 4, 7, 15, and 18 specify that the polymer material is a phosphazene polymer, but claims 1 requires that the polymer material is of Formula (i) and not any phosphazene polymer. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements. It is recommended that the Applicant amend the independent claims 1 and 12 to read that “includes a polymer material that is a phosphazene polymer, the phosphazene polymer is at least one type of polymer represented by general formula (1)”. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1, 5, 6, 8-12, 16, 17, and 19 are allowed. Conclusion Claims 4, 7, 15, and 18 are rejected. Claims 1, 5, 6, 8-12, 16, 17, and 19 are allowed. Applicant's amendment necessitated the 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 Joseph Kosack whose telephone number is (571)272-5575. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-4:30. 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, Patricia Engle can be reached at 571-272-6660. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /JOSEPH R KOSACK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3991
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 04, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 08, 2026
Response Filed
May 26, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12649804
Polymeric Compound, Electroluminescent Device Material, Electroluminescent Device, and Electronic Device
3y 5m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Patent RE50878
PYRAZOLO PYRIDINE DERIVATIVES AS NADPH OXIDASE INHIBITORS
3y 1m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Patent RE50800
PRO-FRAGRANCE COMPOUNDS
3y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent RE50725
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2y 1m to grant Granted Jan 06, 2026
Patent RE50703
POLYMER COMPOSITION
2y 7m to grant Granted Dec 16, 2025
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
69%
With Interview (-5.6%)
2y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1292 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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