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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 6 and 20 July 2026 has been entered.
The amendment to claim 13 has overcome the previous 35 USC 112(b) and art rejections. However, new grounds of rejection are made in view of the amendment to claim 13.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Paragraph [0206] teaches that by adjusting the injection rate of the second composition the concentration of A2, the concentration of B2, and/or the concentration of the second semiconductor compound in the first shell may have a concentration gradient that gradually or suitably increases or decreases along a direction from the surface of the first shell or an interface between the first shell and the second shell to the surface of the core. It is unclear how the injection rate of the second composition causes the concentration gradient. In addition, it is unclear what other elements, besides A2 and B2, are present in either the second composition or the first shell when this process is performed. This is because, in order for there to be a concentration gradient for A2, B2 and/or the second semiconductor compound which consists of A2 and B2, there must be some other elements or compounds present in the shell. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 13 and 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 13 was amended to now teach a quantum dot having a core comprising the first semiconductor compound, a first shell comprising A2 and B2 which covers the core and a second shell comprising A3 and B3 which covers at least a portion of the first shell produced by the process of claim 12, wherein the concentration of A2 and the concentration of B2 in the first shell each have a concentration that gradually increases or decreases along a direction from the interface between the first and second shell, which is the surface of the first shell, to the surface of the core. The process of claims 1, 11 and 12, which define the process by which the quantum dot of claim 13 is produced does not put any limitation of the rate of injection of the claimed step of forming the first shell. Paragraph [0206] teaches adjusting the rate of injection is required to obtain the newly claimed structure. Since the process of claims 1, 11 and 12, as written, does not require, or disclose, adjusting the injection rate of the second composition; the quantum dot produced by the method of claim 12 as written would not have the claimed structure. Accordingly, claims 13 and 15-20 are indefinite since the quantum dot described in the body of the claim is different from the quantum dot described in the preamble of the claim.
In addition, the claims are indefinite as to what is the rest of the composition of the first shell. This is because, in order for there to be a concentration gradient for A2 and B2, the second semiconductor that makes up the first shell must contain other elements besides A2 and B2.
The structure of claim 13 is indefinite since it is unclear what is the different between the surface of the first shell and the interface between the first and second shell since they should be at the same location in that the interface between the first and second shell is at the surface of the first shell. Dependent claims 15-20 implicitly include this limitation and thus are also indefinite for this reason.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12 are allowed for the resons given in the office action mailed 21 January 2026.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to C. MELISSA KOSLOW whose telephone number is (571)272-1371. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Tues:7:45-3:45 EST;Thurs-Fri:6:30-2:00EST; and Wed:7:45-2:00EST.
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/C Melissa Koslow/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1734
cmk
7/24/26
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