Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/610,955

REDUCED GLARE LIGHTING

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 12, 2021
Examiner
FAROKHROOZ, FATIMA N
Art Unit
2875
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Signify Holding B V
OA Round
7 (Non-Final)
48%
Grant Probability
Moderate
7-8
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
82%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 48% of resolved cases
48%
Career Allow Rate
400 granted / 836 resolved
-20.2% vs TC avg
Strong +34% interview lift
Without
With
+34.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
58 currently pending
Career history
894
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
68.9%
+28.9% vs TC avg
§102
23.0%
-17.0% vs TC avg
§112
7.3%
-32.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 836 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Continued Examination under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 10/21/25 has been entered. Claims 1-3,5-9 and 11 remain pending in the application. Claim Objection Claim 7 is objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 7, “the first planar section” does not have antecedent basis to claim 6 on which it is dependent. As first planar section is not recited in claim 6. Appropriate correction is needed. 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)(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. Claim(s) 1-3,5-9 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Parker (US 20170321865 A1) Regarding claim 1, Parker teaches a lighting structure (Fig.1A, also see Fig.3A and 3B), comprising: a light source 101, a light emitting panel having a planar section 103 and a cavity section, wherein the cavity has a depth and an opening size radius (see 302 in Fig.3B or 3C) from a center of the light source and a wall (side walls) surrounding the cavity; and an optic (bulge indicated in the center) disposed within a cavity of the cavity section, wherein an opening of the cavity section is surrounded by the planar section, wherein the light source is coupled to the optic and said optic is located distal from the opening of the cavity section, light emitted from the light source exits the optic into the cavity section to transfer a first portion 102a of said light toward the opening of the cavity section and a second portion of said light into the planar section 103a through the slanted sections of the wall of the cavity section (Note: light is first exiting the optic and then impinging into the planar section). Regarding claim 5, Parker teaches a light source 101 (Fig.1A, also see Fig.3A and 3B), a light emitting panel having a planar section 103a and a cavity section (wherein 102 is indicated), wherein the cavity has a depth and an opening size radius (Fig.3C) from a center of the light source and a wall (two slant side walls of the cavity) surrounding the cavity; an optic (central bulge) disposed within a cavity of the cavity section, wherein an opening of the cavity section is surrounded by the planar section 103a , wherein a wall of the cavity section is slanted on one or more sides of the optic, wherein the light source is coupled to the optic and said optic is located distal from the opening of the cavity section, light emitted from the light source exits the optic into the cavity section; and said light source emits light, wherein the light source is positioned outside of the cavity of the cavity section and proximal to the optic, wherein the optic is positioned to transfer a first portion 102a of said light toward the opening of the cavity section and a second portion (in 103) of said light into the planar section through the slanted sections of the wall of the cavity section. Regarding claim 6, Parker teaches a lighting structure (Fig.1B, also see Fig.6C and 3B), comprising: a base light emitting panel having a planar section (on which 101 is indicated) and an optic (bulge in the center); and a shield light emitting panel having a second planar section 103 and a cavity section (cavity between the 103), wherein a wall of the cavity section is slanted on one or more sides of the optic, wherein the cavity has a depth and an opening size radius from a center of the light source; wherein an opening of the cavity section is surrounded by the second planar section, wherein the optic is disposed within a cavity of the cavity section distal from the opening of the cavity section to transfer light from the light emitting panel to the optic, and wherein the optic transfers a first portion of a light from a light source toward the opening of the cavity section and a second portion of the light into the second planar section through the slanted sections of the wall of the cavity section (see rejection in claims 1 and 5 above, as the scope of the claim is the same). Regarding claim 2, Parker teaches a lighting structure, wherein the cavity section is formed in the planar section (as cavity section is within the planar section). Regarding claim 3, Parker teaches a lighting structure, wherein the light emitting panel and the optic are integrally formed (101 and the rest of the optics formed as one piece, is considered as integral). Regarding claim 7, Parker teaches a lighting structure, wherein a portion of the first planar section (on which 101 is indicated) is spaced from a portion of the second planar section 103 (see claim objection above). Regarding claim 8, Parker teaches a lighting structure, wherein the second planar section and the cavity section are integrally formed (as shown in Fig.1B). Regarding claims 9 and 11, Parker teaches a lighting structure, wherein a wall of the cavity section is slanted on one or more sides of the optic (two sides of the cavity that is slant). Contact Information Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Fatima Farokhrooz whose telephone number is (571)-272-6043. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday- Friday, 9 am - 5 pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the Examiner’s Supervisor, James Greece can be reached on (571) 272-3711. 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. /Fatima N Farokhrooz/ Examiner, Art Unit 2875
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 12, 2021
Application Filed
Apr 21, 2023
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Jul 26, 2023
Response Filed
Nov 02, 2023
Final Rejection — §102
Jan 08, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 21, 2024
Request for Continued Examination
Mar 04, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 08, 2024
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Jun 11, 2024
Response Filed
Oct 02, 2024
Final Rejection — §102
Dec 06, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 30, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jan 31, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 03, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
May 06, 2025
Response Filed
Aug 05, 2025
Final Rejection — §102
Oct 14, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 21, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 23, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Oct 23, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12510786
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Patent 12510706
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Patent 12486964
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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

7-8
Expected OA Rounds
48%
Grant Probability
82%
With Interview (+34.2%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 836 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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