Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/018,994

CURRENT TRANSFORMER

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 31, 2023
Priority
Aug 13, 2020 — nonprovisional of PCTEP2020072748
Examiner
NGUYEN, TUYEN T
Art Unit
2837
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
HSP Hochspannungsgeräte GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
83%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
1008 granted / 1234 resolved
+13.7% vs TC avg
Minimal +1% lift
Without
With
+0.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
52 currently pending
Career history
1294
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
82.5%
+42.5% vs TC avg
§102
5.8%
-34.2% vs TC avg
§112
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1234 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 1-7 and 10-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Debski et al. [CN 102379014] in view of Gettino et al. [US 3,145,357]. Regarding claim 1, Debski et al. discloses a current transformer [1, figures 1-5] comprising: - a head tank and a head tank cover [3], both comprising or consisting of an electrically conductive material [figures 1-5], at least one primary winding for conducting a current to be measured, the primary winding comprising at least one primary bar, and a secondary winding [7] wound around the at least one primary bar, wherein the primary and secondary windings are arranged within a cavity defined within the head tank and head tank cover arranged on the head tank [figures 1-5], wherein an upper flange of the head tank is configured for fluid tightly sealing against a cover flange of the head tank cover by a sleeve [14], wherein the head tank and the head tank cover respectively comprise a primary terminal for electrically contacting the primary winding, wherein one or more connection points [terminals 12] are provided within the head tank and within the head tank cover, respectively, to electrically connect a respective end of the primary winding to the head tank or to the head tank cover. Debski et al. further discloses the sleeve of head cover is sealed between the head cover and the head tank [figure 1]. Debski et al. disclose the instant claimed invention except for an insulating ring arranged between the cover flange and the upper flange. Gettino et al. discloses a transformer [figure 1] comprising: - a tank [1] having a cover [2]; and - core/coil assembly [8] of the transformer arranged inside the tank filled with fluid [7], wherein the tank is sealed with insulating/compressible ring [gasket 5, column 2, lines 20-21, figure 3] arranged between flange [4] and cover of the tank [figure 3]. It would have been an obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to include insulating ring between cover and tank of Debski et al., as suggested by Gettino et al., for the purpose improving liquid/fluid sealing. Regarding claims 2-3, Debski et al. further discloses the primary winding comprises a number of primary bars extending in parallel and a number of return conductors connecting one respective primary bar to another one, wherein the return conductors are wound around the secondary winding [loop conductors show in figure 1], wherein the return conductors are located within the cavity defined within the head tank and head tank cover [figures 1-3]. Regarding claim 4, the specific of paper insulated copper wire would have been an obvious design consideration for the purpose of improving insulation. Regarding claim 5, Debski et al. discloses the tank with head tank including a widen space provided to support the conductor loops of the primary and secondary windings [figure 1]. Regarding claim 6, Debski further discloses other external terminals [K1, K2, K3] arranged externally [figures 1-3] and for connection of the windings to external devices. Regarding claim 7, Debski et al. further discloses the connection point between the primary and secondary winding to current supply ends [P1, P2, figure 1] with screw holes [15, 16]. The specific connection means use for connection point would have been an obvious design consideration for the purpose of improving connections. Regarding claim 10, Debski et al. discloses the external terminals [K1, K2, K3] arranged on the same level [figure 3]. The specific arrangement of the external terminals would have been an obvious design consideration for the purpose of improving external connections and/or arrangement. Regarding claim 11, Debski et al. discloses the external terminals [K1, K2, K3] arranged at different locations [figure 3]. Regarding claim 12, Gettino et al. discloses wherein the cover flange comprises a plurality of cover flange holes and the upper flange comprises a plurality of corresponding upper flange holes configured to allow for securing the head tank cover on the head tank by screws [3], wherein the upper flange holes or the cover flange holes are threaded and/or configured as blind holes, wherein in each cover flange hole and/or in each upper flange hole, a respective electrically insulating axle box is arranged and the screws are lead through the axle boxes [figures 1-4]. Regarding claim 13, the specific arrangement of the primary and/or secondary conductors would have been an obvious design consideration for the purpose of facilitating manufacturing and/or assembling. Regarding claim 14, Gettino et al. further discloses the upper flange and the cover comprise a respective circumferential notch [figures 2-3] in which a respective O-ring or gasket arranged. It would have been an obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to use the gasket also as the insulating ring provided for insulation and/or sealing for the head cover. Regarding claim 15, the specific material use for the insulating ring would have been an obvious design consideration for the purpose of improving sealing and/or insulation. Claim(s) 8-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Debski et al. in view of Gettino as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of GB190213934A. Regarding claim 8, Debski et al., as modified, disclose the instant claimed invention except for one or more handling tabs. GB190213934A discloses a head tank [A’, figure 1] for a current transformer, wherein the head tank including a plurality of handling tabs [figure 1]. It would have been an obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to include one or more handling tabs in Debski et al. head tank, as suggested by GB190213934A for the purpose of providing handling means. Regarding claim 9, GB190213934A discloses the handling tabs include hole [figure 1]. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TUYEN T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1996. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8:30-5:30. 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, Shawki Ismail can be reached at 571-272-3985. 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. /TUYEN T NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 31, 2023
Application Filed
May 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12633447
COIL MODULE
4y 7m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12633448
COIL COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING COIL COMPONENT
3y 8m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12626857
A TRANSFORMER ARRANGEMENT
1y 8m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12620519
MULTILAYER ELECTRONIC COMPONENT
3y 8m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Patent 12620522
MULTILAYER COIL COMPONENT
3y 4m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
83%
With Interview (+0.9%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1234 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month