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 § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-5 and 7-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Huang et al. (US 2015/0108449) (hereafter “Huang”).
Regarding claims 1-5 and 7-11, Huang teaches an electroluminescent device comprising an anode, a hole transporting layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transporting layer, and a cathode (paragraphs [0051]-[0058]) (claims 7-9 and 11). Huang teaches that the light emitting layer comprises a host material and a dopant (paragraph [0055]) (claims 9 and 10). Huang teaches that the host material can be
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, and
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are few examples (paragraphs [0016] and [0021]) (claims 1-5).
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.
Claim(s) 1-8 and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sekiguchi et al. (US 2011/0240983) (hereafter “Sekiguchi”) in view of Begley et al. (US 2009/0108734) (hereafter “Begley”).
Regarding claims 1-8 and 11, Sekiguchi teaches an electroluminescent device comprising an anode, a hole transporting layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transporting layer, and cathode (paragraphs [0131]-[0141]) (claims 7, 8, and 11). Sekiguchi teaches that the light emitting layer can comprise a fluoranthene compound (paragraphs [0028] and [0137]) (claims 1-6). Sekiguchi teaches that the fluoranthene compound can have the following structure,
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(paragraph [0028]) (claims 1-6). Sekiguchi teaches that the fluoranthene compound can be further substituted (paragraphs [0016]-[0019]). Sekiguchi teaches benzoflouranthene compounds with additional substitution,
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(paragraph [0028]).
Sekiguchi does not specifically teach a compound that meets the applicant’s claimed compound.
Begley teaches substituted fluoranthene for use in electroluminescent devices (paragraph [0049]). Begley teaches that the fluoranthene compound can have the following substitution,
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(paragraph [0049]). Begley teaches that the 7,10-diphenyl-fluoranthene compounds show better properties than the corresponding benzofluoranthene compounds (paragraphs [0024]-[0028] and [0337]-[0352]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectively filing date of the claimed invention to modify the compound of Sekiguchi, so the compound is substituted at the 7 and 10 position with phenyl groups, as taught by Begley. The motivation would have been to improve operational stability. This would lead to applicant’s compound 115J.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Jang et al. (US 2015/0236273) teaches compounds that meet the applicant’s claimed formula.
Wu et al. (WO 2015/061074) teaches compounds that meet the applicant’s claimed formula.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDREW K BOHATY whose telephone number is (571)270-1148. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7am-4pm.
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, Curtis Mayes can be reached at (571)272-1234. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANDREW K BOHATY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1759
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