DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This office action is responsive to applicant’s response filed on March 3, 2026. Claims 1-8 and 20 as listed in the March 3, 2026 claim set are pending.
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 1-8 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Skulason et al. (US 2019/0378992 A1).
Skulason et al. teaches compounds according to Formula (I) (see abstract):
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128
462
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.
Variables m and n may be 0 or 1 per an instant compound with one amino group (see par. 9). Ar3 to Ar6 groups may be hydrocarbon aryl groups (see par. 7). Variables a and b may be 0 or 1 per an instant compound having a linking group between the heterocyclic group and the amino group (see par. 8). The “Core” may be according to Formula IA (see par. 10):
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106
606
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where Y may be selected as O or S (see par. 12). More specifically, see core (IA-b) (see par. 250):
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172
268
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.
Definitions for groups in Skulason et al. Formula I compounds encompass meanings the same as included within specific compounds of claims 1 and 20. For instance, in formula I, the core may be selected as IA-h (par. 76, 250), each Y may be O or S (see par. 78), Ar1 may be aryl phenyl group (see par. 116-117), “a” is 1, m is 1, n is 0, and b is 0 (see par. 5-19, 71-85), and Ar3 and Ar4 may be aryl (see par. 73) such as phenyl and a biphenyl (see representative groups in “IA-1” in par. 388). When an Ar1 is selected a phenylene, “a” is 1, m is 1, n is 0 and b is 0, Ar3 is phenyl and Ar4 is biphenyl and the “core” is IA-h (that may bond at any attachment points of the terminal phenyl groups comprising the core group including the same bonding position as depicted in instant “B2”), the Skulason formula I compound is at least the same as instant “B2”:
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144
172
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.
Regarding the condensed cyclic compound in a layer of a device of claim 1, Skulason teaches a photoactive layer between a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact (see par. 28). Regarding a device structure of claim 2, Skulason et al. teaches a device may have an anode layer, hole injection layer, hole transport layer, photoactive layer (emissive), electron transport layer, electron injection layer, and cathode layer (see par. 547). There may be multiple layers (see par. 548, 575). Regarding claims 3-5, one or more layers may include a Formula I (see par. 540). Regarding claim 6, the emitting layer may include host and dopant (see par 551-560). Regarding claim 7, a host may include at least an anthracene material (see par. 557). Regarding claim 8, there may be multiple emissive layers (see par. 549, 551-560, 575).
While Skulason et al. does not appear to set forth example compounds the same as the specific compounds recited in instant claim 1 and 20 and/or these compounds within an example device structure, Skulason et al. teaches formula I compounds and devices within the requirements of the instant claim limitations as discussed above. Given the teachings of the reference, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the instant invention to prepare the material of the reference, choosing as the compound, material as described above wherein the resultant compound and material for a device would also meet the limitations of the instant claims. One would expect to achieve an operational light emitting device within the disclosure of Skulason et al. with a predictable result and a reasonable expectation of success.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed March 3, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues “the compounds of Skulason are symmetrical compounds containing two amine groups”. In response, Skulason formula (I) defines m and n as each 0 or 1. Accordingly, both a group bracketed by subscript m and a group bracketed by subscript n is not required. While example compounds in Skulason par. 388 are diamine compounds, the reference is not limited to only example embodiments. Applicant alleges unexpected results have been shown, but the office submits the examples in partial Table 1 are not sufficient to demonstrate clearly unexpected results. “Inventive B5” is not compared to any comparative compounds where the only difference in the comparative compound is an additional arylamine group. “Inventive B35” is not compared to any comparative compounds where the only difference in the comparative compound is an additional arylamine group. Accordingly, applicant has not demonstrated that selecting monoamine compounds for a device is unexpectedly superior to example diarylamine compounds in Skulason.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Dawn Garrett whose telephone number is (571)272-1523. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday (Eastern Time).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer 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.
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/DAWN L GARRETT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1786
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