Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 22, 2026
Application No. 18/690,758

PHOTOSENSITIVE COMPOSITION

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Mar 11, 2024
Priority
Sep 17, 2021 — EU EP21.306289.6 +1 more
Examiner
ANGEBRANNDT, MARTIN J
Art Unit
1737
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Arkema France
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
56%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 56% of resolved cases
56%
Career Allowance Rate
767 granted / 1381 resolved
-9.5% vs TC avg
Strong +34% interview lift
Without
With
+34.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
64 currently pending
Career history
1469
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
44.4%
+4.4% vs TC avg
§102
21.1%
-18.9% vs TC avg
§112
20.5%
-19.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1381 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . The groups of inventions listed above do not relate to a single general inventive concept under PCT Rule 13.1 because, under PCT Rule 13.2, they lack the same or corresponding special technical features for the following reasons: REQUIREMENT FOR UNITY OF INVENTION As provided in 37 CFR 1.475(a), a national stage application shall relate to one invention only or to a group of inventions so linked as to form a single general inventive concept (“requirement of unity of invention”). Where a group of inventions is claimed in a national stage application, the requirement of unity of invention shall be fulfilled only when there is a technical relationship among those inventions involving one or more of the same or corresponding special technical features. The expression “special technical features” shall mean those technical features that define a contribution which each of the claimed inventions, considered as a whole, makes over the prior art. The determination whether a group of inventions is so linked as to form a single general inventive concept shall be made without regard to whether the inventions are claimed in separate claims or as alternatives within a single claim. See 37 CFR 1.475(e). When Claims Are Directed to Multiple Categories of Inventions: As provided in 37 CFR 1.475 (b), a national stage application containing claims to different categories of invention will be considered to have unity of invention if the claims are drawn only to one of the following combinations of categories: (1) A product and a process specially adapted for the manufacture of said product; or (2) A product and a process of use of said product; or (3) A product, a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the said product, and a use of the said product; or (4) A process and an apparatus or means specifically designed for carrying out the said process; or (5) A product, a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the said product, and an apparatus or means specifically designed for carrying out the said process. Otherwise, unity of invention might not be present. See 37 CFR 1.475 (c). Restriction is required under 35 U.S.C. 121 and 372. This application contains the following inventions or groups of inventions which are not so linked as to form a single general inventive concept under PCT Rule 13.1. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.499, applicant is required, in reply to this action, to elect a single invention to which the claims must be restricted. Group I, claims 1-15, drawn to a photosensitive composition including a photoinitiator, photosensitizer, photoinhibitor and chain transfer agent. Group II, claim(s) 16-18, drawn to a process of curing the photocurable composition using an exposure. Group III, claims 19-20, drawn to the cured product. Groups I-III lack unity of invention because even though the inventions of these groups require the technical feature of the a photoinitiator, photosensitizer, photoinhibitor and chain transfer agent, this technical feature is not a special technical feature as it does not make a contribution over the prior art in view of the “X” reference cited in the search report of 11/9/20222 During a telephone conversation with Christopher R. Lewis (36,201) on September 25, 2026 a provisional election was made without traverse to prosecute the invention of group I, claims 1-15. Affirmation of this election must be made by applicant in replying to this Office action. Claims 16-20 withdrawn from further consideration by the examiner, 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a non-elected invention. The examiner notes that phone numbers of record (610)-205-7654 (in signature block) and (610)-205-7454 (associated with customer number) do not accept incoming calls. Applicant is advised that the reply to this requirement to be complete must include (i) an election of a species or invention to be examined even though t requirement may be traversed (37 CFR 1.143) and (ii) identification of the claims encompassing the elected invention. The election of an invention or species may be made with or without traverse. To preserve a right to petition, the election must be made with traverse. If the reply does not distinctly and specifically point out supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election shall be treated as an election without traverse. Traversal must be presented at the time of election in order to be considered timely. Failure to timely traverse the requirement will result in the loss of right to petition under 37 CFR 1.144. If claims are added after the election, applicant must indicate which of these claims are readable on the elected invention or species. Should applicant traverse on the ground that the inventions have unity of invention (37 CFR 1.475(a)), applicant must provide reasons in support thereof. Applicant may submit evidence or identify such evidence now of record showing the inventions to be obvious variants or clearly admit on the record that this is the case. Where such evidence or admission is provided by applicant, if the examiner finds one of the inventions unpatentable over the prior art, the evidence or admission may be used in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) of the other invention. Applicant is reminded that upon the cancelation of claims to a non-elected invention, the inventorship must be corrected in compliance with 37 CFR 1.48(a) if one or more of the currently named inventors is no longer an inventor of at least one claim remaining in the application. A request to correct inventorship under 37 CFR 1.48(a) must be accompanied by an application data sheet in accordance with 37 CFR 1.76 that identifies each inventor by his or her legal name and by the processing fee required under 37 CFR 1.17(i). The examiner has required restriction between product or apparatus claims and process claims. Where applicant elects claims directed to the product/apparatus, and all product/apparatus claims are subsequently found allowable, withdrawn process claims that include all the limitations of the allowable product/apparatus claims should be considered for rejoinder. All claims directed to a nonelected process invention must include all the limitations of an allowable product/apparatus claim for that process invention to be rejoined. In the event of rejoinder, the requirement for restriction between the product/apparatus claims and the rejoined process claims will be withdrawn, and the rejoined process claims will be fully examined for patentability in accordance with 37 CFR 1.104. Thus, to be allowable, the rejoined claims must meet all criteria for patentability including the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 101, 102, 103 and 112. Until all claims to the elected product/apparatus are found allowable, an otherwise proper restriction requirement between product/apparatus claims and process claims may be maintained. Withdrawn process claims that are not commensurate in scope with an allowable product/apparatus claim will not be rejoined. See MPEP § 821.04. Additionally, in order for rejoinder to occur, applicant is advised that the process claims should be amended during prosecution to require the limitations of the product/apparatus claims. Failure to do so may result in no rejoinder. Further, note that the prohibition against double patenting rejections of 35 U.S.C. 121 does not apply where the restriction requirement is withdrawn by the examiner before the patent issues. See MPEP § 804.01. 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. 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. 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 1-3 and 5-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being fully anticipated by Scott et al. WO-2019164808. Scott et al. WO-2019164808 exemplifies a photopolymerizable composition including Triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA, Esstech Inc., Essington, PA, USA) and bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (bisGMA, Esstech) and triethylene glycol divinyl ether (TEGDVE, Sigma- Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) 0.2 wt% Camphorquinone (CQ, a blue light-active photoinitiator), 0.5 wt% 4-dimethylaminobenzoate (sensitizer,a co-initiator), 2 wt% 2,2'-Bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'- tetraphenyl-1,2' -biimidazole (o-CPHABI, photoinhibitor) and 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (co-initiator, chain transfer agent) (page 117/line 21-page 118/line 7). Embodiments of the technology provide a composition further comprising a coinitiator, e.g., to enhance the polymerization rate, extent, quality, etc. The technology is not limited in the coinitiator. Non-limiting examples of co-initiators include primary, secondary, and tertiary amines; alcohols; and thiols. Particular examples of coinitiators include, e.g., dimethylaminobenzoate, isoamyl 4- (dimethylamino)benzoate, 2-ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate; ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate; 3-(dimethylamino)propyl acrylate; 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate; 4-(dimethylamino)benzophenones, 4- (diethylamino)benzophenones; 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenones; methyl diethanolamine; triethylamine; hexane thiol; heptane thiol; octane thiol; nonane thiol; decane thiol; undecane thiol; dodecane thiol; isooctyl 3-mercaptopropionate (42/22+) In some embodiments, the photoinhibitor is, but not limited h zinc dimethyl dithiocarbamate; zinc diethyl dithiocarbamate; zinc dibutyl dithiocarbamate; nickel dibutyl dithiocarbamate; zinc dibenzyl dithiocarbamate; tetramethylthiuram disulfide; tetraethylthiuram disulfide; tetramethylthiuram monosulfide; tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide; tetraisobutylthiuram disulfide; dipentamethylene thiuram hexasulfide; N,N'- dimethyl N,N'-di(4-pyridinyl)thiuram disulfide; 3- Bulenyl 2- (dodecylthiocarbonothioylthio)-2-methylpropionate; 4-Cyano-4- [(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl]pentanoic acid; In some embodiments, the photoinhibitor compounds of the technology (e.g., compounds having fast back reaction kinetics and/or HABI (e.g., bridged HABI compounds)) do not exhibit photoinitiation activity when irradiated (e.g., when photoactivated) and thus only exhibit photoinhibition when irradiated (e.g., when photoactivated). Moreover, in some embodiments, the non-photoactivated photoinhibitor compounds of the technology do not retard polymerization rates (e.g., by chain transfer reactions) (56/33-57/29) Claims 1-3 and 5-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being fully anticipated by Hamaguchi et al. WO 2018074539. Hamaguchi et al. WO 2018074539 (machine translation attached) exemplifies a composition of 150 parts by mass of a black pigment dispersion (V-4), 19 parts by mass of a polymerization solution (solid content concentration: 33% by mass) containing an alkali-soluble resin (P-3), and dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate as a polymerizable oligomer. 0 part by mass, 2.6 parts by mass of 2-methyl-1- (4-methylthiophenyl) -2-morpholinopropan-1-one (photoinitiator), 2,2′-bis (2-chlorophenyl)- 2,5,4 ′, 5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole (2.0 parts by mass, photoinhibitor), 4,4′-bis (diethylamino) benzophenone (0.7 part by mass, photosensitizer) and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (chain transfer agent, 1.0 part by mass), 0.7 part by mass of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane as an adhesion assistant, and 0.02 part by mass of MegaFac F475 (manufactured by DIC) as a surfactant Part, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate 10.0 parts by weight as a solvent, and cyclohexanone 17.0 parts by weight [0212]. Claims 1-3 and 5-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being fully anticipated by Ichinohe et al. TW-I388581. Ichinohe et al. TW-I388581 (machine translation attached) In examples 9-12, the combination of 5 parts 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl) -2-morpholinylpropan-1-one (Irgacure 907, photoinitiator) , 2.5 parts 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)- 4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole (photoinhibitor) 1.5 parts 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone (sensitizer) 1.25 parts 2-mercaptobenzene thiazole (chain transfer agent) with 100 parts of monomer Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (B-1) ( and 100 parts polymer binder see table 1). In examples 14-22, the combination of 5 parts 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methylbenzimidyl)-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-ethane-1-one oxime- O-acetate (photoinitiator), 5 parts 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl) -2-morpholinylpropan-1-one (photoinitiator) 2.5 parts : 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)- 4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole (photoinhibitor) 2.5 parts 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone (sensitizer) 1.25 parts 2-mercaptobenzene thiazole (chain transfer agent) are combined with 80 parts Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (B-1) and 60 parts a commercial product containing a polyfunctional urethane acrylate compound (B-2) and 100 parts of a polymeric binder (page 53-55) PNG media_image1.png 657 449 media_image1.png Greyscale Examples of such a [C] radiation-sensitive polymerization initiator include an O-mercapto fluorene-based compound, an acetophenone-based compound, a bisimidazole-based compound, a benzoin-based compound, a benzophenone-based compound, and α- Diketone compound, polynuclear oxime compound, xanthone compound, phosphine compound, three A compound or the like. As the O-fluorenyl fluorene-based compound, a 9.H.-carbazole-based O-fluorenyl hydrazine type polymerization initiator is preferred. For example, it may be 1-[9-ethyl-6-benzylidinyl-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-decane-1,2-decane-2-indole-O-benzoic acid. Ester, 1-[9-ethyl-6-benzylidenyl-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-nonane-1,2-decane-2-indole-O-acetate, 1 -[9-ethyl-6-benzylidenyl-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-pentane-1,2-pentane-2-indole-O-acetate, 1-[9 -ethyl-6-benzhydryl-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-octane-1-one oxime-O-acetate, 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2- Methyl benzhydryl)-9.H.-carbazol-3-yl]-ethane-1-one oxime-O-benzoate, 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl Benzomethane)-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-ethane-1-one oxime-O-acetate, 1-[9-ethyl-6-(1,3,5- Trimethyl benzhydryl)-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-ethane-1-one oxime-O-benzoate, 1-[9-butyl-6-(2- Ethyl benzhydryl)-9.H.-carbazol-3-yl]-ethane-1-one oxime-O-benzoate, 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl 4-tetrahydropyranyl methoxybenzene Mercapto)-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-ethane-1-one oxime-O-acetate, 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4-tetrahydrofuranyl) Methoxybenzylidene)-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-ethane-1-one oxime-O-acetate. Among these O-indenyl hydrazine compounds, particularly preferred is 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methylbenzhydryl)-9.H.-oxazol-3-yl]-ethane -1-ketooxime-O-acetate, 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4 tetrahydropyranylmethoxybenzylidene)-9.H.-carbazole -3-yl]-ethane-1-one oxime-O-acetate. The above O-indenyl ruthenium compound can be used singly or in combination of two or more kinds. In the present invention, since the O-indenyl ruthenium compound is used, a spacer having sufficient sensitivity and adhesion can be obtained even at an exposure amount of 1,200 J/m .sup.2 or less. The acetophenone-based compound may, for example, be an α-hydroxyketone compound or an α-aminoketone compound. The above α-hydroxyketone compound may, for example, be 1-phenyl-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one or 1-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl Propione-1-one, 4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, and the like. Further, the α-amino ketone compound may be, for example, 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinylpropan-1-one or 2-benzyl-2- Dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinylphenyl)-butan-1-one, 2-(4-methylbenzimidyl)-2-(dimethylamino)-1-(4- Morpholinylphenyl)-butan-1-one or the like; as compounds other than them, for example, 2,2-dimethoxyacetophenone, 2,2-diethoxyacetophenone, 2, 2 - Dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone and the like. Among these acetophenone-based compounds, 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinylpropan-1-one and 2-(4-methylbenzene are particularly preferred. Mercapto)-2-(dimethylamino)-1-(4-morpholinylphenyl)-butan-1-one. In the present invention, the sensitivity, the shape of the spacer or the compressive strength can be further improved by using the acetophenone-based compound in combination. Further, as the bisimidazole compound, for example, 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetrakis(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)-1,2 may be used. '-Diimidazole, 2,2'-bis(2-bromophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetrakis(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)-1,2'-bisimidazole, 2, 2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole, 2,2'-bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl) -4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole, 2,2'-bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5 '-Tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole, 2,2'-bis(2-bromophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole, 2,2'-bis(2,4-dibromophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole, 2,2'-bis (2,4, 6-Tribromophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole and the like. Among these bisimidazole compounds, 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole, 2, is preferred. 2'-bis(2,.4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole, 2,2'-bis (2,4,6 -Trichlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole, etc., particularly preferably 2,2'-bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl)- 4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-bisimidazole. In the present invention, sensitivity, resolution or adhesion can be further improved by using a bisimidazole compound. In addition, in the case of using a bisimidazole compound in combination, an aliphatic or aromatic compound having a dialkylamine group (hereinafter referred to as "amine-based sensitizer") may be added in order to enhance sensitization. As the amine-based sensitizer, for example, N-methyldiethanolamine, 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzonitrile can be used. Ketone, ethyl p-dimethylaminobenzoate, isoamyl p-dimethylaminobenzoate, and the like. Among these amine-based sensitizers, 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone is particularly preferred. The above amine-based sensitizers can be used singly or in combination of two or more kinds. Further, when a bisimidazole compound and an amine based sensitizer are used in combination, a thiol compound may be added as a hydrogen donor compound. The diimidazole compound is sensitized and cleaved by a sensitizing agent containing a dialkylamine group to produce an imidazole radical, but it does not exhibit high polymerization initiating ability as it is, and the resulting spacer becomes an inverted cone shape. There are many situations in which the shape is not suitable. However, in a system in which a diimidazole-based compound and an amine-based sensitizer coexist, a hydrogen radical derived from a thiol-based compound is supplied to an imidazole radical by adding a thiol-based compound, and the imidazole radical is converted into The neutral imidazole produces a sulfur radical having a high polymerization initiating ability, whereby the shape of the spacer can be made into a better tapered shape.As the above thiol compound, for example, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole or 2-mercaptobenzoene may be used. An aromatic compound such as azole, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, 2-mercapto-5-methoxybenzothiazole, 2-mercapto-5-methoxybenzimidazole; 3-mercaptopropionic acid, 3-mercapto Methyl propionate, ethyl 3-mercaptopropionate, octyl 3-mercaptopropionate monothiol; 3,6-di -1,8-octanedithiol, pentaerythritol tetrakis(mercaptoacetate), pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) bifunctional or higher aliphatic thiol. Among these thiol-based compounds, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole is particularly preferred. When the diimidazole-based compound and the amine-based sensitizer are used in combination, the amount of the amine-based sensitizer added is preferably 0.1 to 50 parts by weight, more preferably 100 parts by weight of the biimidazole-based compound. It is 1 to 20 parts by weight. When the amount of the amine-based sensitizer added is less than 0.1 part by weight, the effect of improving the sensitivity, the resolution, and the adhesion tends to be lowered. On the other hand, if it exceeds 50 parts by weight, the shape of the obtained spacer is damaged. The tendency. Further, when the bisimidazole compound and the amine based sensitizer are used in combination, the amount of the thiol compound added is preferably 0.1 to 50 parts by weight, more preferably 1 part by weight to 100 parts by weight of the bisimidazole compound. ~20 parts by weight. When the amount of the thiol-based compound added is less than 0.1 part by weight, the effect of improving the shape of the spacer is lowered, and the film tends to decrease. On the other hand, if it exceeds 50 parts by weight, the shape of the obtained spacer is The tendency to damage. (pages 26-31). Claims 1-3 and 5-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being fully anticipated by Suzuki et al. JP 2012215837. Suzuki et al. JP 2012215837 (machine translation attached) in example 14 exemplifies the combination of 100 parts of polymer A-6, 5 parts polymer B-6 (copolymer is methacrylic acid, glycidylmethacerylate, butadiene , 60 parts DPHA, 60 parts urethane acrylate 5 parts Ethanone, 1- [9-ethyl-6- (2-methylbenzoyl) -9H-carbazol-3-yl]-, 1- (O-acetyloxime) (photoinitiator), 5 parts 2,2′-bis (2-chlorophenyl) -4,4 ′, 5,5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole (photoinihibitor), 5 parts 4,4′-bis (diethylamino) benzophenone and 2-5 parts 2-mercaptobenzothiazole. Photoinitator D-2 is Bis (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) -phenylphosphine oxide (irgacure 819) (table 1, pages 31-33 ) PNG media_image2.png 600 402 media_image2.png Greyscale Specific examples of the acylphosphine oxide compound include 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine oxide, bis (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) -phenylphosphine oxide, and the like. An acyl phosphine oxide compound can be used individually or in mixture of 2 or more types [0103-0104] In the polymerization reaction, a molecular weight modifier can be used to adjust the molecular weight. Specific examples of molecular weight modifiers include halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform and carbon tetrabromide; mercaptans such as n-hexyl mercaptan, n-octyl mercaptan, n-dodecyl mercaptan, t-dodecyl mercaptan, and thioglycolic acid. Xanthogens such as dimethylxanthogen sulfide and diisopropylxanthogen disulfide; terpinolene, α-methylstyrene dimer and the like. The amount used of the molecular weight control agent is usually 0.1 to 50 parts by weight, preferably 0.2 to 16 parts by weight, particularly preferably 0.4 to 8 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of monomers. Examples of the additive include a radiation-sensitive acid generator such as triphenylsulfonium salt and tetrahydrothiophenium salt [0121]. The composition includes a copolymer containing (B) a structural unit having a carboxylic group and (B) a structural unit having an epoxy group (abstract) The glycidyl group on polymer B-6 is cationically polymerizable (it is an epoxy group) Claims 1-3 and 5-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being fully anticipated by Takemura et al. JP 2012189994. Takemura et al. JP 2012189994 (machine translation attached) exemplfies in example 5, a composition including 100 parts of a polymer, 10 parts, caprolactone-modified dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, 20 parts monoesterified product of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate and succinic acid, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate and a mixture of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate,, 4 parts 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1- (4-morpholinophenyl) butan-1-one (photoinitiator), 0.6 parts of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (chain transfer agent , 1.2 Parts 2,2′-bis (2-chlorophenyl) -4,4 ′, 5,5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole (photoinhibitor) and 1.2 parts of 4,4′-bis (diethylamino) benzophenone (table 1, pages 20-24) PNG media_image3.png 625 363 media_image3.png Greyscale Claims 1-3, 5-13 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Scott et al. WO-2019164808 Scott et al. WO-2019164808 does not exemplify a composition including a compound capable of thiol-ene polymerizable/crosslinking.or chain transfer agent such as thiol, thioether/sulfide, disulfide, thiocarbamate or thiocarcbonylthio. It would have been obvious to modify the identified compositions by adding hexane thiol; heptane thiol; octane thiol; nonane thiol; decane thiol; undecane thiol; dodecanethiol; isooctyl 3-mercaptopropionate;pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate); 4,4'-thiobisbenzenethiol or trimethylolpropane tris(3 -mercaptopropionate) as co-initiators and/or other photoinihibitords such as dimethyl dithiocarbamate; zinc diethyl dithiocarbamate; zinc dibutyl dithiocarbamate; nickel dibutyl dithiocarbamate; zinc dibenzyl dithiocarbamate; tetramethylthiuram disulfide; tetraethylthiuram disulfide; tetramethylthiuram monosulfide; tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide; tetraisobutylthiuram disulfide; dipentamethylene thiuram hexasulfide; N,N'- dimethyl N,N'-di(4-pyridinyl)thiuram disulfide; 3- Bulenyl 2- (dodecylthiocarbonothioylthio)-2-methylpropionate; 4-Cyano-4- [(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl]pentanoic acid based upon the disclosure to do so with a reasonable expectation of forming a useful photosensitive composition.. The thiol and mercato compounds are inherently able to undergo thiol-ene polymerization. Claims 1-3,5-13 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ichinohe et al. TW-I388581 Ichinohe et al. TW-I388581does not exemplify a composition including a compound capable of thiol-ene polymerizable/crosslinking.or chain transfer agent such as thiol, thioether/sulfide, disulfide, thiocarbamate or thiocarcbonylthio. It would have been obvious to modify the identified compositions by adding 1,8-octanedithiol, pentaerythritol tetrakis(mercaptoacetate), pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) bifunctional or higher aliphatic thiol based upon the disclosure to do so with a reasonable expectation of forming a useful photosensitive composition.. The thiol and mercato compounds are inherently able to undergo thiol-ene polymerization. Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Suzuki et al. JP 2012215837. Suzuki et al. JP 2012215837 does not exemplify a composition including a phosphine oxide photoinitiator, a cationic photoinitiator, a compound capable of thiol-ene polymerizable/crosslinking.or chain transfer agent such as thiol, thioether/sulfide, disulfide, thiocarbamate or thiocarcbonylthio. It would have been obvious to modify the identified compositions by adding 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine oxide, bis (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) -phenylphosphine oxide, and the like as an additional photoinitiator to increase the (spectral) photosensitivity, a radiation-sensitive acid generator such as triphenylsulfonium salt and tetrahydrothiophenium salt [0121], based upon the disclosure to do so and/or replacing a portion of the mercaptobenzothiazole with other mercaptans or disulfides such as n-hexyl mercaptan, n-octyl mercaptan, n-dodecyl mercaptan, t-dodecyl mercaptan, thioglycolic acid dimethylxanthogen sulfide and diisopropylxanthogen disulfide based upon the disclosed equivalence with a reasonable expectation of forming a useful photosensitive composition.. The thiol and mercato compounds are inherently able to undergo thiol-ene polymerization. Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Suzuki et al. JP 2012215837, further in view of Nabuurs et al., CN 104204011. Nabuurs et al., CN 104204011 (machine translation attached). teaches chain transfer agent, such as selected from thiol (glycol-amide-propionic), halogenated hydrocarbon and some chain transfer agent alpha-methylstyrene or by catalytic chain transfer polymerization, using, for example, conventional cobalt chelate complex. or it can use a controlled free radical polymerization method, for example, by using suitable nitroxide compound (nitroxide) or thiocarbonyl sulfur (thiocarbonylthio) compounds, such as disulfide , dithiocarbamate, trithiocarbonate and xanthate [0203]. Suzuki et al. JP 2012215837 does not exemplify or fairly teach the full range of chian transfer agents. In addition to the basis above, it would have been obvious top one skilled in the art to modify the composition exemplified or rendered obvious by Suzuki et al. JP 2012215837 by replacing at least a portion of the mercaptobenzothiazole with other known chain transfer agents such as the thiocarbonyl sulfur (thiocarbonylthio) , dithiocarbamate or trithiocarbonate taught by Nabuurs et al., CN 104204011 with a reasonable expectation of forming a useful photosensitive composition. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20070190450 has similar teachings of photoinitiator combinations. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Martin J Angebranndt whose telephone number is (571)272-1378. The examiner can normally be reached 7-3:30 pm EST. 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, Ching-Yu (Coris) Fung can be reached at 571-270-5713. 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. MARTIN J. ANGEBRANNDT Primary Examiner Art Unit 1737 /MARTIN J ANGEBRANNDT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1737 September 25, 2026
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Prosecution Timeline

Mar 11, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
56%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+34.1%)
3y 1m (~6m remaining)
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Low
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