Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/001,778

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALCULATING A VIBRATORY METER Q

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Dec 14, 2022
Examiner
WILEY, DAVID ARMAND
Art Unit
2100
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Micro Motion Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
40%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 3m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 40% of resolved cases
40%
Career Allow Rate
4 granted / 10 resolved
-15.0% vs TC avg
Strong +67% interview lift
Without
With
+66.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
7 currently pending
Career history
17
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.4%
-34.6% vs TC avg
§103
42.0%
+2.0% vs TC avg
§102
17.0%
-23.0% vs TC avg
§112
30.4%
-9.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 10 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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(s) 1,2,6,8,9,10,12,13,15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over McAnally et al 20170336309. As to claims 1,2,6,8,9, McAnally et al 2017/0336309 teaches (Figure 3) a vibrating meter 5 operable to determine at least one of a viscosity and a density (Para 2) of a fluid therein, comprising: a driver 122 and a vibrating element 112 vibratable by the driver 122, and operable to be in contact with the fluid; a vibrating sensor 124 configured to detect a vibrational response of the vibrating element 114; meter electronics configured to send an excitation signal to the driver 122, and to receive the vibrational response, and further configured to measure a first vibrational response point and a calculate second vibrational response point of the vibrational response (i.e. points w1 and w2 per Para 78), wherein the second vibrational response point is one of interpolated and extrapolated (“extrapolate or interpolate”, line 8, Para 78) from other measured response points, and wherein meter electronics is further configured to calculate a Q of the vibrating element (Equation 2 of Para 62). As to claims 1,2,6,8,9, extrapolated and interpolated values are determined, and thus measured to that extent; or in the alternative, one of ordinary skill would so relate. Claims 3-5,7,11,14 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT R RAEVIS whose telephone number is (571)272-2204. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon to Fri from 8am to 4pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina DeHerrera, can be reached at telephone number 303-297-4237. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center for authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to Patent Center, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). 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) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form. /ROBERT R RAEVIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 14, 2022
Application Filed
Dec 15, 2024
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §103
Jan 17, 2025
Response Filed

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
40%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+66.7%)
3y 3m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 10 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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