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 § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) does/do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because the claim is not a proper process claim reciting any active, positive steps.
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) does/do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because the claim is not a proper process claim reciting any active, positive steps.
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.
Claim 7 is 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 6 attempts to claim the use of the carbon material dispersion material without reciting any active, positive steps delimiting how this use is actually practiced. Therefore, the claim is indefinite.
Claim 7 is 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 6 attempts to claim the use of the carbon material dispersion material without reciting any active, positive steps delimiting how this use is actually practiced. Therefore, the claim is indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art of record namely Okamoto et al (JP 2010254546) and Okamoto et al (US 2018/0002179) do not teach or suggest a carbon nanotube dispersion comprising all of the cumulative limitations of claim 1.
Okamoto et al (JP 2010254546 submitted in the IDS filed 4/1/2024 where citations are from the machine translation provided by the Examiner) teaches an aqueous dispersion of carbon nanotubes and an ionic dispersant (see Abstract). Okamoto further teaches where the dispersant is present in an amount of 30 to 1500 parts by weight of the carbon nanotubes (see Description of Embodiments, Page 7). Okamoto does not teach that when a dilute dispersion is obtained by diluting the carbon material dispersion with a diluent comprising the liquid medium such that absorbance at a wavelength WM, which is a median value of an arbitrary wavelength WL within a range of 350 to 550 nm and an arbitrary wavelength WH within a range of 650 to 850 nm, is 1.8±0.02, a ratio of absorbance AL at the wavelength WI to absorbance AH at the wavelength WH, (AL/AH), is 1.60 or more for the dilute dispersion; the diluent is a blank solution whose composition is the same as that of the carbon material dispersion except that the carbon material is not contained; and the wavelength WL is 380 nm, the wavelength WH is 780 nm, and the wavelength WM is 580 nm.
Okamoto et al (US 2018/0002179 submitted in the IDS filed 4/1/2024 hereinafter Okamoto-2) teaches a carbon nanotube dispersion liquid containing a carbon nanotube-containing composition, a dispersant with a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 400,000, a volatile salt, and an aqueous solvent (See Abstract). Okamoto-2 does not teach that when a dilute dispersion is obtained by diluting the carbon material dispersion with a diluent comprising the liquid medium such that absorbance at a wavelength WM, which is a median value of an arbitrary wavelength WL within a range of 350 to 550 nm and an arbitrary wavelength WH within a range of 650 to 850 nm, is 1.8±0.02, a ratio of absorbance AL at the wavelength WI to absorbance AH at the wavelength WH, (AL/AH), is 1.60 or more for the dilute dispersion; the diluent is a blank solution whose composition is the same as that of the carbon material dispersion except that the carbon material is not contained; and the wavelength WL is 380 nm, the wavelength WH is 780 nm, and the wavelength WM is 580 nm.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL FORREST whose telephone number is (571)270-5833. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday (10AM-6PM).
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/MICHAEL FORREST/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1738
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