Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/348,682

LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT AND POLYCYCLIC COMPOUND FOR THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102§103§112
Filed
Jul 07, 2023
Priority
Aug 26, 2022 — RE 10-2022-0107962
Examiner
VISCONTI, GERALDINA
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
1160 granted / 1341 resolved
+26.5% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+1.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
1375
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.2%
-37.8% vs TC avg
§103
24.1%
-15.9% vs TC avg
§102
25.4%
-14.6% vs TC avg
§112
30.9%
-9.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1341 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103 §112
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 1-26 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 1 is rejected as being vague and indefinite when it recites “at least one of a second compound represented by Formula HT, a third compound represented by Formula ET, or a fourth compound represented by Formula M-b” (emphasis added); the scope of the protection sought is not clear. Claim 1 fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the contents of the claimed light emitting element, i.e., whether the claimed light emitting element requires a compound of Formula 1 with a compound of Formula HT, a compound of Formula ET, and a compound of Formula M-b, OR simply a compound of Formula 1 with any one of a compound of Formula HT, a compound of Formula ET, or a compound of Formula M-b. Claims 1, 12, 17, and 25 are rejected as being vague and indefinite when they each recite “or are bonded to an adjacent group to form a ring” (emphasis added) with respect to the substituents R4 to R7 in the compound of formula 1; the scope of the protection sought by and the antecedent basis of “an adjacent group” is not clear. Claims 1, 12, 17, and 25 each fail to particularly point out and distinctly claim the substituents R4 to R7 in the compound of formula 1. Claim 1 is rejected as being vague and indefinite when it recites “or are bonded to an adjacent group to form a ring” (emphasis added) with respect to the substituents R8 and R9 in the compound of formula HT; the scope of the protection sought by and the antecedent basis of “an adjacent group” is not clear. Claim 1 fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the substituents R8 and R9 in the compound of formula HT. Claim 1 is rejected as being vague and indefinite when it recites “or are bonded to an adjacent group to form a ring” (emphasis added) with respect to the substituents R33 to R36 in the compound of formula ET; the scope of the protection sought by and the antecedent basis of “an adjacent group” is not clear. Claim 1 fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the substituents R33 to R36 in the compound of formula ET. Claim 1 is rejected as being vague and indefinite when it recites “or are bonded to an adjacent group to form a ring” (emphasis added) with respect to the substituents R31 to R39 in the compound of formula M-b; the scope of the protection sought by and the antecedent basis of “an adjacent group” is not clear. Claim 1 fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim the substituents R31 to R39 in the compound of formula M-b. Claims 4 and 16 are rejected as being vague and indefinite when they each recite “or are bonded to an adjacent group to form a ring” (emphasis added) with respect to the substituents R4i to R7i in the compound of formula 3; the scope of the protection sought by and the antecedent basis of “an adjacent group” is not clear. Claims 4 and 16 each fail to particularly point out and distinctly claim the substituents R4i to R7i in the compound of formula 3. Claims 5 and 20 are rejected as being vague and indefinite when they each recite “or are bonded to an adjacent group to form a ring” (emphasis added) with respect to the substituents Ra to Rc in the compound of formula 4-1; the scope of the protection sought by and the antecedent basis of “an adjacent group” is not clear. Claims 5 and 20 each fail to particularly point out and distinctly claim the substituents Ra to Rc in the compound of formula 4-1. Claim 16 is rejected as being vague and indefinite when it recites “wherein the at least one functional layer comprises a polycyclic compound represented by Formula 3” (emphasis added) ; the scope of the protection sought is not clear. Claim 16 fails to particularly point out and distinctly claim that the polycyclic compound of formula 1 is represented by the polycyclic compound of formula 3. Claim Objections Claims 6, 11, 21, and 24 are objected to because of the following informalities: some of the subscript designations as well as single vs double bonds in the rings are not clearly distinguishable. Appropriate correction is required. In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. Claims 1-26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being obvious over Kim et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023/0084208). Kim et al. discloses a polycyclic organoborane compound, the corresponding use thereof of said a polycyclic organoborane compound in a light emitting element, and the corresponding use thereof said light emitting element in an electronic device, wherein said light emitting element comprises a first electrode have disposed thereon a second electrode, and an emission layer therebetween, characterized in that said emission layer comprises: a polycyclic organoborane compound inclusive of the polycyclic organoborane compound of the present formula 1, as generally represented therein by PNG media_image1.png 300 422 media_image1.png Greyscale ([0111]; p. 18), and as more specifically represented therein by any one of PNG media_image2.png 250 330 media_image2.png Greyscale , PNG media_image3.png 266 334 media_image3.png Greyscale , PNG media_image4.png 284 358 media_image4.png Greyscale , PNG media_image5.png 287 353 media_image5.png Greyscale , PNG media_image6.png 275 348 media_image6.png Greyscale , PNG media_image7.png 283 361 media_image7.png Greyscale , PNG media_image8.png 369 367 media_image8.png Greyscale , PNG media_image9.png 329 516 media_image9.png Greyscale PNG media_image10.png 444 464 media_image10.png Greyscale , PNG media_image9.png 329 516 media_image9.png Greyscale , PNG media_image11.png 379 456 media_image11.png Greyscale PNG media_image12.png 428 545 media_image12.png Greyscale PNG media_image13.png 439 561 media_image13.png Greyscale PNG media_image14.png 447 548 media_image14.png Greyscale PNG media_image15.png 437 556 media_image15.png Greyscale PNG media_image16.png 465 568 media_image16.png Greyscale PNG media_image17.png 433 570 media_image17.png Greyscale ; a compound inclusive of the compound of the present formula HT, as generally represented therein by PNG media_image18.png 242 409 media_image18.png Greyscale or PNG media_image19.png 168 396 media_image19.png Greyscale ([0220]; p. 86+); a compound inclusive of the compound of the present formula ET, as generally represented therein by PNG media_image20.png 136 332 media_image20.png Greyscale ([0397]; p. 1104), and an organometallic Platinum-containing compound inclusive of the organometallic Platinum-containing compound of the present formula M-b, as generally represented therein by PNG media_image21.png 143 400 media_image21.png Greyscale or PNG media_image22.png 154 400 media_image22.png Greyscale ([0344]; p. 562+). Although the Example summarized in Table 2 ([0495]; p. 1120) illustrates a light emitting element characterized by comprising a combination of a polycyclic organoborane compound of formula 1, compounds inclusive of the compound of the present formula HT, as represented therein by each of PNG media_image23.png 244 267 media_image23.png Greyscale and PNG media_image24.png 255 217 media_image24.png Greyscale ; and a compound inclusive of the compound of the present formula M-b, as represented therein by PNG media_image25.png 210 275 media_image25.png Greyscale , the polycyclic organoborane compound utilized therein does not encompass those of the present formula 1. Although Kim et al. does not expressly illustrate light emitting element characterized by comprising a combination of the compounds of the present formulae I, HT, ET, and M-b, they are well known in art, individually as well as in combination, as generally taught therein. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the requisite art at the time the invention was filed to utilize a combination of compounds inclusive of the present formulae I, HT, ET, and M-b, in the light emitting layers of Kim et al. as generally taught therein, with reasonable expectations of achieving, absent object evidence to the contrary, the advantages taught therein, as well as those associated with their combination thereof. The applied reference has a common assignee with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effectively filed date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a) that the subject matter disclosed in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor of this application and is thus not prior art in accordance with 35 U.S.C.102(b)(2)(A); (2) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b) of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B); or (3) a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) establishing that, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, the subject matter disclosed and the claimed invention were either owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement. See generally MPEP § 717.02. Prior Art The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure: - U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2024/0122071, which is the pre-grant publication corresponding to the present application, and - the following, which are pertinent to the phenazaborine derivative compounds of the present formula 1: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023/0126371; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2024/0276880; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2024/0138170. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Geraldina Visconti whose telephone number is (571)272-1334. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. 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, Anthony J Zimmer can be reached at (571)270-3591. 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. GERALDINA VISCONTI Primary Examiner Art Unit 1737 /GERALDINA VISCONTI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1737
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 07, 2023
Application Filed
Sep 21, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Jul 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12698444
LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE MEDIUM
1y 11m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12692441
LIQUID-CRYSTAL MEDIUM
4y 9m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12692439
COMPOSITION, POLARIZER LAYER, LAMINATE, AND IMAGE DISPLAYING DEVICE
4y 4m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12692440
LIQUID CRYSTAL ALIGNING AGENT, LIQUID CRYSTAL ALIGNMENT FILM AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY ELEMENT
1y 8m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12686820
POLYMERISABLE LIQUID CRYSTAL MATERIAL AND POLYMERISED LIQUID CRYSTAL FILM
4y 10m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
86%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+1.5%)
2y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1341 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month