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 § 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.
Claims 1-16 are 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.
Claims 1 and 13 contain the limitation “polyvinylidene fluoride (D) that can be included as needed”. This limitation is confusing because it is unclear when the polyvinylidene fluoride is needed. There is no clearly defined context or situation as to when such a component is needed in the claim and when it is not. For examination purposes, polyvinylidene fluoride will be interpreted as being required by the claim (needed to produce the carbon nanotube dispersion paste, e.g., claim 5). The dependent claims are likewise rejected as failing to cure the deficiencies of claims 1 and 13.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: JP 2019-21517 and WO 2022172847 are considered the closest prior art of record. JP ‘517 teaches a method for producing a conductive paste for lithium ion battery positive electrodes, comprising a step of mixing and dispersing a dispersion resin having a moisture content of less than 10,000 ppm, conductive carbon having a moisture content of less than 10,000 ppl, and a solvent having a moisture content of less than 10,000 ppm. JP ‘517 further teaches a resin having a polycyclic aromatic ring, conductive carbon, polyvinylidene fluoride, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (see abstract, pages 1-3). WO ‘847 teaches a conductive paste and coating film, comprising a dispersion resin having an amine compound or polar functional group (abstract). None of the prior art teach using a hetero ring or an alkyl group having 12 or more carbon atoms in the resin, nor does it teach using carbon nanotubes in the dispersion. There would have been no apparent reason or motivation to have modified the prior art to arrive at the claimed invention.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHAN T. LEONG whose telephone number is (571)270-5352. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10:00-6:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Gordon Baldwin can be reached at 571-272-5166. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NATHAN T LEONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1718
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