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
Applicant’s election of Specie I in the reply filed on 09/14/2026 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
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 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Joo et al. (KR 10-2020-0066208 A) (refer to English translated as provided).
Regarding claim 1, Joo discloses a compound represented by chemical formula A-1
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, which reads on instant claimed Chemical Formula 1.
Joo discloses compound 31
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as a specific compound of chemical formula A-1. Compound 31 corresponds to the compound of instant claims chemical formula 1 wherein X is S; Ar1 and Ar2 are unsubstituted C6 aryl (phenyl); R1 is hydrogen or unsubstituted C1 or C4 alkyl; n1 is 1 or 5; and R2 is unsubstituted C2 alkyl (ethyl).
Although specific examples do not disclose that at least one R1 is benzofuranyl, dibenzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl or dibenzothiophenyl, Joo in a broader disclosure explicitly discloses R isa substituted C2 -s0 heteroaryl group; and the heteroaryl group includes a benzothiophene group (
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) or a benzofuranyl group (
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) (see [0045] and [0069]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to have used benzothiophene group or benzofuranyl group as at least one of the R1 substituents because choosing from finite number of identified results is obvious (KSR Int'l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 415-421, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1395-97 (2007)).
Regarding claim 2 or 3, Joo discloses Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently phenyl (see compound 31).
Regarding claim 4 or 5, Joo as modified discloses R1 is unsubstituted C1 or C4 alkyl (see compound 31), and at least one R1 is
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or
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(as modified above).
Regarding claim 6, Joo as modified discloses R1 is unsubstituted C1 alkyl or methyl (see compound 31), and at least one R1 is
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or
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(as modified above).
Regarding claim 7 or 8, Joo discloses R2 is C2 alkyl or ethyl (see compound 31).
Regarding claim 9 or 10, Joo as modified discloses that the compound represented by formula 1-1 (compound 31 as modified).
Regarding claims 11 and 12, Joo discloses an organic light emitting device comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode that is provided opposite to the first electrode ([0008]); and at least one organic material layer or light emitting layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode ([0009-0010]), wherein the at least one organic material layer or the light emitting layer comprises the compound of claim 1 (see [0010]).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GOLAM MOWLA whose telephone number is (571)270-5268. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th, 7am - 4pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Allison Bourke can be reached at 303-297-4684. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GOLAM MOWLA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1721
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