Appeal No. 1996-2690
Application 07/967,787
To permit crosslinking by exposure to electromagnetic
radiation in the near UV and visible portions of the spectrum,
there is incorporated in the composition containing the
molecular dipole and photosensitive binder precursor one or a
combination of compounds acting as initiators. (Emphasis
added).
The examiner cites Reck as disclosing (Answer, page 4):
a method of crosslinking NLO polymers, poling and curing the
polymers (pages 76-77). NLO polymers prepared from
diepoxides and NLO-amino compounds are taught.
The examiner, additionally, urges that Reck provides (Answer, page 4)
additional motivation by teaching that the NLO moieties are
covalently bonded into a rigid polymeric network and are less
likely to undergo relaxation processes that lead to the decay of
the noncentrosymmetric alignment of doped or side group
NLO polymers.
While Reck does not teach the use of a separate crosslinking agent, it does evidence the
use of crosslinkable polymers having NLO moieties attached thereto which are crosslinked
while in a poled condition.
Thus, on this record, we agree that the examiner has established a prima facie
case of obviousness within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 103 with regard to the method of
forming a crosslinked polymer, having second order nonlinear optical properties, where a
host polymer having the nonlinear optical component covalently bonded thereto is
combined with a crosslinking agent, the combination subjected to an electric field to pole
the nonlinear optical component of the host polymer and exposing the combination to
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