Prosecution Insights
Last updated: September 17, 2026
Application No. 18/022,151

INDUSTRIAL PLANT AND SYSTEM AND METHOD TO POWER AN INDUSTRIAL PLANT

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Feb 18, 2023
Priority
Aug 20, 2020 — IT 102020000020281 +1 more
Examiner
SIDDIQUEE, TAMEEM
Art Unit
2116
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Danieli Automation S P A
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
62%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 62% of resolved cases
62%
Career Allowance Rate
145 granted / 234 resolved
+7.0% vs TC avg
Strong +38% interview lift
Without
With
+37.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
267
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.2%
-31.8% vs TC avg
§103
59.3%
+19.3% vs TC avg
§102
13.8%
-26.2% vs TC avg
§112
16.5%
-23.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 234 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 05/21/2026 has been entered. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1-2, 4, 6-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim recites wherein at least one high frequency DC/DC converter is provided between the storage devices and the common bus and then further claims wherein the power supply system includes at least one high frequency converter positioned between the common bus and the one or more DC connection circuits and arranged to provide galvanic isolation. The claim is indefinite since it is not clear if the at least one high frequency DC/DC converter is different than the at least one high frequency converter positioned between the common bus and the one or more DC connection circuits. Therefore, the claim is indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 1 The term “high frequency converter” in claim 1 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “high” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. Therefore, claim 1 and tits dependent claims are rejected. Claim 9 is similar to claim 1 and is similarly rejected. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-15 under 35 USC 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of 35 USC 112(b). The arguments have been fully considered and are deemed persuasive in light of the amendments to the claims. However, as a result of further consideration, the claims have been rejected under 35 USC 112(b) as shown above. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TAMEEM SIDDIQUEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1627. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-4:00. 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, Kenneth Lo can be reached at (571) 272-9774. 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. /TAMEEM D SIDDIQUEE/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 2116
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 1 earlier event
May 21, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Sep 11, 2025
Response Filed
Dec 29, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 20, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
May 21, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
May 27, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 04, 2026
Examiner Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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SYSTEM FOR THE OPERATION AND THE ASSISTANCE IN THE OPERATION OF A CRITICAL INDUSTRIAL PROCESS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
2y 3m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12730433
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3y 3m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12717292
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3y 2m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Patent 12710678
CONTROLLERS FOR OPTICALLY SWITCHABLE DEVICES
4y 0m to grant Granted Aug 18, 2026
Patent 12710187
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3y 11m to grant Granted Aug 18, 2026
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
62%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+37.7%)
3y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 234 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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