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 .
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 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 19 March 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues Kanemoto fails to disclose a conductive polymer containing poly(2-ethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with a polyanion. The examiner finds said argument to be unpersuasive as [0035] of Kanemoto explixtly recites “polystyrene sulfonic acid-doped poly2-ethyl-3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene”. Claim 11 stands rejected.
Claim Objections
Claim 12 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 12 recites “…dispersing a conductive polymer in a conductive polymer dispersion, transpiring at least a part of the solvent from conductive polymer dispersion…” wherein “the solvent” lacks antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination, the examiner is taking “…dispersing a conductive polymer in a conductive polymer dispersion, transpiring at least a part of the solvent from conductive polymer dispersion…” to read “…dispersing a conductive polymer in a solvent to obtain a conductive polymer dispersion, transpiring at least a part of the solvent from conductive polymer dispersion…”. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JP2017222795A hereafter referred to as Kanemoto.
In regards to claim 11, Kanemoto discloses
A conductive polymer dispersion for a solid electrolyte at least containing poly(2-ethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with a polyanion ([0035]);
wherein crystallinity of a conductive polymer produced from the conductive polymer dispersion is 20% or less ([0011], [0035] & [0049] - based on the composition make up and pH the crystallinity is met).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1, 9-10 & 12 (as examined by examiner) is/are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art does not teach or suggest (in combination with the other claim limitations) a solid electrolyte formed from conductive polymer dispersion containing conductive polymer, wherein: the conductive polymer is poly(2-ethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with a polyanion, the solid electrolyte is formed using the conductive polymer dispersion with pH of 4.0 or more and 4.5 or less, and crystallinity of the conductive polymer is 20 % or less (claims 1 & 9-10) & a method for producing a solid electrolyte comprising: dispersing a conductive polymer in a solvent to obtain a conductive polymer dispersion, transpiring at least a part of the solvent from conductive polymer dispersion, which wherein: the conductive polymer is poly(2-ethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with a polyanion, and adjusting pH of the conductive polymer dispersion to 4.0 or more and 4.5 or less and setting the conductive polymer with crystallinity of 20 % or less (claim 12).
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.
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID M SINCLAIR whose telephone number is (571)270-5068. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH from 8AM-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, TIMOTHY J DOLE can be reached at (571)272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/David M Sinclair/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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