Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/018,005

ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT ELEMENT

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 25, 2023
Priority
Aug 28, 2020 — JP 2020-144607 +1 more
Examiner
DEGUIRE, SEAN M
Art Unit
1786
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Nippon Steel Chemical & Material Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
60%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 60% of resolved cases
60%
Career Allowance Rate
168 granted / 281 resolved
-5.2% vs TC avg
Strong +30% interview lift
Without
With
+29.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 0m
Avg Prosecution
54 currently pending
Career history
335
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
93.0%
+53.0% vs TC avg
§102
4.0%
-36.0% vs TC avg
§112
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 281 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Election/Restrictions The election of species requirement as previously set forth on 02/25/2026 is withdrawn. 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 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hatakeyama et al (WO 2020040298) (Hatakeyama). In reference to claims 1-3 and 6-8, Hatakeyama teaches an organic electroluminescent device including a host compound (e.g. the compounds below, in box) [057]), a thermally activated delayed phosphor (e.g. compound DCN3 below [060]) and a compound having a boron atom (e.g. the Boron compound below [0130]) as components of the light emitting layer between an anode and a cathode (Hatakeyama [004] to [005]). PNG media_image1.png 242 222 media_image1.png Greyscale PNG media_image2.png 172 192 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 132 256 media_image3.png Greyscale Hatakeyama further teaches that the use of these materials as taught realizes a spectrum with good halftone width and a good color, high external quantum efficiency, improved roll-off and long life (Hatakeyam [036]). Given that Hatakeyama discloses the device configuration that encompasses the presently claimed device, including a light emitting layer comprising the components above, it therefore would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant application, to use device configuration, which is both disclosed by Hatakeyama and encompassed within the scope of the present claims and thereby arrive at the claimed invention. For Claim 1: DCN3 reads on a first host wherein d is 1, R1 a carbazole, f is 1, and Ar1 is a substituted phenyl, the host compound reads on formula 2 wherein each of X1 is N, each of Ar2 is a substituted phenyl, and the boron compound reads on a formula (4) wherein DEFG and H are ach benzene, each Y1 is B, one of X2 is O and each other of X2 is N-Ar3 and Ar3 is phenyl. For Claim 2: Reads on substituted phenyl. For Claim 3: Reads on formula 5. For Claim 6: Reads on formula 8. For Claim 7-8: Reads on 0.05 (per the instant specification same as compound 4-121). In reference to claims 1-5 and 7-8, Hatakeyama teaches an organic electroluminescent device including a host compound (e.g. the compound below, in box [057]), a thermally activated delayed phosphor (e.g. compound DCN3 below [060]) and a compound having a boron atom (e.g. the Boron compound below [0130]) as components of the light emitting layer between an anode and a cathode (Hatakeyama [004] to [005]). PNG media_image4.png 108 170 media_image4.png Greyscale PNG media_image2.png 172 192 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 132 256 media_image3.png Greyscale Hatakeyama further teaches that the use of these materials as taught realizes a spectrum with good halftone width and a good color, high external quantum efficiency, improved roll-off and long life (Hatakeyama [036]). Given that Hatakeyama discloses the device configuration that encompasses the presently claimed device, including a light emitting layer comprising the components above, it therefore would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant application, to use device configuration, which is both disclosed by Hatakeyama and encompassed within the scope of the present claims and thereby arrive at the claimed invention. For Claim 1: DCN3 reads on a first host wherein d is 1, R1 a carbazole, f is 1, and Ar1 is a substituted phenyl, the host compound reads on formula 2 wherein one of X1 is N, each of Ar2 is a hydrogen or a carbazole, and the boron compound reads on a formula (4) wherein DEFG and H are ach benzene, each Y1 is B, one of X2 is O and each other of X2 is N-Ar3 and Ar3 is phenyl. For Claim 2: Reads on substituted phenyl. For Claim 3: Reads on formula 5. For Claim 4: Reads on formula 6. For Claim 5: Reads on formula (7). For Claim 7-8: Reads on 0.05 (per the instant specification same as compound 4-121). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Sean M DeGuire whose telephone number is (571)270-1027. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM. 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 A. 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. 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. /Sean M DeGuire/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1786
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 25, 2023
Application Filed
May 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12684936
LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME
3y 5m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12668606
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUND, ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS INCLUDING THE ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE
4y 3m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12648352
A PLURALITY OF HOST MATERIALS AND ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT DEVICE COMPRISING THE SAME
5y 3m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026
Patent 12642000
ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT COMPOUND, A PLURALITY OF HOST MATERIALS, AND ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT DEVICE COMPRISING THE SAME
5y 3m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12630574
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUND, ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS INCLUDING THE ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE
4y 2m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
60%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+29.8%)
4y 0m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 281 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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