Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/782,744

IC CHIP-MOUNTING DEVICE AND IC CHIP-MOUNTING METHOD

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Jun 06, 2022
Examiner
KIM, SU C
Art Unit
2899
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Sato Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha
OA Round
2 (Final)
77%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
65%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 77% — above average
77%
Career Allow Rate
695 granted / 899 resolved
+9.3% vs TC avg
Minimal -12% lift
Without
With
+-12.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
48 currently pending
Career history
947
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
57.6%
+17.6% vs TC avg
§102
25.0%
-15.0% vs TC avg
§112
6.5%
-33.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 899 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 § 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) 16-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Suguro et al. (US 20070284759). Regarding claim 16, Suguro discloses that an IC chip mounting method for mounting an IC chip on an antenna, the IC chip mounting method comprising: sucking, by a nozzle 31, an IC chip 20 at a first position (Fig. 1); acquiring an image of the IC chip sucked by the nozzle, while the IC chip is continuously moved from the first position to a second position where the IC chip is mounted; and determining a correction value for mounting the IC chip at a reference position of the antenna, based on the image acquired by the acquiring (Fig. 2, para. 0159). Regarding claim 17, Suguro discloses that an IC chip mounting method for mounting an IC chip on an antenna, the IC chip mounting method comprising: sucking an IC chip at a first position (pickup at 11a , Fig. 5)) ; moving the IC chip from the first position to a second position (bonding location at 22) where the IC chip is mounted on the antenna (Fig. 1-3); acquiring an image of the IC chip 20 while the IC chip is moved from the first position to the second position (Fig 5); and determining, based on the image of the IC chip, a first correction amount for correcting an angle of the IC chip around an axis, a second correction amount for correcting a position of the antenna in a conveying direction of the antenna, and a third correction amount for correcting the position of the antenna in a width direction (para. 0159). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-15 are allowed over the prior art. Reasons for Allowance The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: After further search and consideration, it is determined that the prior art neither anticipated nor renders obvious the claimed subject matter of the instant application as a whole either taken alone or in combination. The prior art does not teach or render not obvious “- - a processor configured to determine correction amounts for the IC chip sucked by the nozzle, based on the image acquired by the image acquisition unit, the correction amounts including: a first correction amount for correcting an angle of the nozzle around the axis, a second correction amount for correcting a position of the antenna in a conveying direction of the antenna, and a third correction amount for correcting the position of the antenna in a width direction, wherein the first rotating unit is configured to rotate the nozzle around the axis based on the first correction amount, wherein the second rotating unit is configured to rotate the nozzle attachment, with an angular velocity adjusted based on the second correction amount, and wherein the moving machine is configured to move the nozzle in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the antenna, based on the third correction amount.” with combination of other claim limitations in claim 1. Also, the prior art does not teach or render not obvious “- - determining correction amounts for the IC chip sucked by the nozzle, based on the acquired image, the correction amounts including: a first correction amount for correcting an angle of the nozzle around an axis, a second correction amount for correcting a position of the antenna in a conveying direction of the antenna, and a third correction amount for correcting the position of the antenna in a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, rotating the nozzle around the axis based on the first correction amount; rotating the nozzle attachment, with an angular velocity adjusted based on the second correction amount; moving the nozzle in the width direction based on the third correction amount; and placing the IC chip sucked by the nozzle, at the reference position of the antenna, when the nozzle is located at the second position.” with combination of other claim limitations in claim 9 Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SU C KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-5972. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 to 5:00. 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, Dale Page can be reached at 571-270-7877. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. 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. /SU C KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2899
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 06, 2022
Application Filed
May 02, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Oct 06, 2025
Response Filed
Dec 02, 2025
Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
77%
Grant Probability
65%
With Interview (-12.4%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 899 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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