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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 6 and 13 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.
Claims 6 and 13 recite “the first EL layer A and the first EL layer B each comprise a light-emitting layer.
However, Claim 1 from which Claim 6 and 13 are dependent upon already introduced a light-emitting layer in the first EL layer A . Therefore, it is not clear is the Applicant is trying to introduce another light-emitting layer in the first EL layer A or further limit light-emitting layer of Claim 1.
For the purposes of examination, the Examiner will consider limitation the first EL layer A … comprise a light-emitting layer as referring back to a light-emitting layer of Claim 1.
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.
Claim(s) 1-3, 5-10 and 12-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (US 2020/0161383 A1) in view of Seo et al. (US 2013/0277655 A1).
Regarding Claim 1, Kim (Fig. 1) discloses a light-emitting apparatus comprising:
a first light-emitting device (21); and
a second light-emitting device (22), wherein
the first light-emitting device (21) and the second light-emitting device (22) are adjacent to each other, wherein
the first light-emitting device (21) comprises a first EL layer A (611, 612) and a second EL layer (613, 623), wherein
the second light-emitting device (22) comprises a first EL layer B (621, 622) and the second EL layer (613, 623), wherein
the first EL layer A (611, 612) and the first EL layer B (621, 622) are independent of each other, wherein
the second EL layer (613, 623) is shared by the first light-emitting device (21) and the second light-emitting device (22), wherein
an end surface of the first EL layer A (611, 612) on the first EL layer B side (621, 622) and an end surface of the first EL layer B (621, 622) on the first EL layer A side (611, 612) face each other, wherein
the first EL layer A (611, 612) comprises a light-emitting layer (612a, 612b), wherein
the light-emitting layer (612a, 612b) comprises a light-emitting material (612a), a first organic compound, and a second organic compound, wherein
the first organic compound is an organic compound having an electron-transport property (“electron transporting layer”) [0086], and wherein
the second organic compound is an organic compound having a hole-transport property.
Kim does not explicitly disclose a first organic compound, and a second organic compound, wherein the first organic compound is an organic compound having an electron-transport property, and wherein the second organic compound is an organic compound having a hole-transport property.
Seo (Fig. 1) discloses a light-emitting layer (113) comprises a light-emitting material (124), a first organic compound (120), and a second organic compound (122), wherein
the first organic compound (120) is an organic compound having an electron-transport property (“n electron-transport material having an electron mobility of, for example, 10.sup.−6 cm.sup.2/Vs or higher can be used as the first organic compound 120 (host material)”) [0047], and wherein
the second organic (122) compound is an organic compound having a hole-transport property. (a hole-transport material having a hole mobility of, for example, 10.sup.−6 cm.sup.2/Vs or higher can be used as the second organic compound 122 (assist material)) [0047].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify a light-emitting apparatus in Kim in view of Seo such that a light-emitting apparatus includes a first organic compound, and a second organic compound, wherein the first organic compound is an organic compound having an electron-transport property, and wherein the second organic compound is an organic compound having a hole-transport property in order to to contribute to a reduction in driving voltage [0118] and light-emitting element with high emission efficiency can be obtained [0080]
Regarding Claim 2, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 1.
Kim in view of Seo does not explicitly disclose that the electron mobility is higher than hole mobility in the light-emitting layer.
However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify a light-emitting apparatus in Kim in view of Seo such that the electron mobility is higher than hole mobility in the light-emitting layer in order to contribute to a reduction in driving voltage [0118] and have electron-transport property is higher than the hole-transport property thereof. [0147]
Regarding Claim 3, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the first organic compound comprises a π-electron deficient heteroaromatic ring skeleton [“a π-electron deficient heteroaromatic compound “; 0015], and wherein
the second organic compound comprises a π-electron rich heteroaromatic ring skeleton (“π-electron rich heteroaromatic compound “). [0015]
Regarding Claim 5, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second organic compound comprises a carbazole skeleton. [0119]
Regarding Claim 6, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the first EL layer A (611, 612) and the first EL layer B (621, 622) each comprise a light-emitting layer. (612a, 612b) (622 a, b)
Regarding Claim 7, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
each of the light-emitting layers is positioned closest to a second EL layer side (613, 623) in the first EL layer A and the first EL layer B. (611, 612) and (621, 622)
Regarding Claim 8, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
the second EL layer (613, 623) comprises any one or more of a hole-blocking layer, an electron-transport layer, and an electron-injection layer. [0069]
Regarding Claim 9, Kim in view of Seo discloses an electronic device comprising the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 1.
Kim in view of Seo as previously combined does not explicitly disclose a sensor, an operation button, and a speaker or a microphone.
However, Seo (Fig. 10C) discloses an electronic device comprising speaker or a microphone. (mobile phone) [0192]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify an electronic device comprising the light-emitting apparatus in Kim in view of Seo having a sensor, an operation button, and a speaker or a microphone in order to have a mobile phone with reduced power consumption can be obtained. [0192].
Regarding Claim 10, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the first organic compound comprises a π-electron deficient heteroaromatic ring skeleton [“a π-electron deficient heteroaromatic compound “; 0015], and wherein
the second organic compound comprises a π-electron rich heteroaromatic ring skeleton (“π-electron rich heteroaromatic compound “). [0015]
Regarding Claim 12, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second organic compound comprises a carbazole skeleton. [0119]
Regarding Claim 13, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the first EL layer A (611, 612) and the first EL layer B (621, 622) each comprise a light-emitting layer. (612a, 612b) (622 a, b)
Regarding Claim 14, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
each of the light-emitting layers is positioned closest to a second EL layer side (613, 623) in the first EL layer A and the first EL layer B. (611, 612) and (621, 622)
Regarding Claim 15, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second EL layer (613, 623) comprises any one or more of a hole-blocking layer, an electron-transport layer, and an electron-injection layer. [0069]
Regarding Claim 16, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
the second EL layer (613, 623) comprises any one or more of a hole-blocking layer, an electron-transport layer, and an electron-injection layer. [0069]
Regarding Claim 17, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein
the second EL layer comprises any one or more of a hole-blocking layer, an electron-transport layer, and an electron-injection layer.
the second EL layer (613, 623) comprises any one or more of a hole-blocking layer, an electron-transport layer, and an electron-injection layer. [0069]
Regarding Claim 18, Kim in view of Seo discloses an electronic device comprising the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 2.
Kim in view of Seo as previously combined does not explicitly disclose a sensor, an operation button, and a speaker or a microphone.
However, Seo (Fig. 10C) discloses an electronic device comprising speaker or a microphone. (mobile phone) [0192]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify an electronic device comprising the light-emitting apparatus in Kim in view of Seo having a sensor, an operation button, and a speaker or a microphone in order to have a mobile phone with reduced power consumption can be obtained. [0192].
Claim(s) 4 and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (US 2020/0161383 A1) in view of Seo et al. (US 2013/0277655 A1) and further in view of Yamaguchi et al. (US 2019/0031673 A1)
Regarding Claim 4, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the first organic compound [0118]
Kim in view of Seo does not explicitly disclose naphthofuropyrazine skeleton
Yamaguchi discloses a first organic compound comprises a naphthofuropyrazine skeleton [0107, 0325].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify a light-emitting apparatus in Kim in view of Seo and Yamaguchi such that the first organic compound naphthofuropyrazine skeleton
in order to contribute to improving the element characteristics of a light-emitting element. [0325]
Regarding Claim 11, Kim in view of Seo discloses the light-emitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the first organic compound [0118]
Kim in view of Seo does not explicitly disclose naphthofuropyrazine skeleton
Yamaguchi discloses a first organic compound comprises a naphthofuropyrazine skeleton [0107, 0325].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify a light-emitting apparatus in Kim in view of Seo and Yamaguchi such that the first organic compound naphthofuropyrazine skeleton
in order to contribute to improving the element characteristics of a light-emitting element. [0325]
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DMITRIY YEMELYANOV whose telephone number is (571)270-7920. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9a.m.-6p.m.
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/DMITRIY YEMELYANOV/Examiner, Art Unit 2891