Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 16, 2026
Application No. 18/037,064

Work Machine

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
May 15, 2023
Priority
Dec 18, 2020 — JP 2020-210348 +1 more
Examiner
JIN, GEORGE C.
Art Unit
3747
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Yanmar Holdings Co. Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
4-5
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
402 granted / 478 resolved
+14.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
501
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.3%
-36.7% vs TC avg
§103
49.4%
+9.4% vs TC avg
§102
32.8%
-7.2% vs TC avg
§112
13.7%
-26.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 478 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 . Response to Amendment The amendment filed on 7/10/25 has been entered. Upon further search and reconsideration the new rejection has been written. See below Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. (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) 1-2, 5, 8-9, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Uehara et al (US Patent No. 10,378,414). Regarding claim 1, Uehara teaches A work machine comprising: an engine; (3 figure 2) an exhaust gas treatment device including a filter that catches particulate matter in exhaust gas discharged from the engine; and (4 figure 2) a display device that shows a display screen indicating an operational procedure for regenerating the filter by increase of temperature of the exhaust gas, (28 figure 4A column 18 line 15-20) wherein a progress of regeneration of the filter and a warning associated with the regeneration superimposed on the display screen are simultaneously displayed on the display device when the filter is regenerated based on the display screen. (figure 16A and 16B column 17 line 1-15 when regen switch 31 is pressed; regen exhaust filter symbol on 42 and contents on alert screen S2 displayed on 28 regen warning and progress). Regarding claim 2, Uehara teaches further comprising: a regeneration instruction operation unit that is operated by an operator and receives a regeneration instruction for the filter, (column 16 line 52-67 and column 17 line 1-15 regen switch 31 is pressed for a predetermined time) wherein the display device (28 figure 4A) displays the progress and the warning when the filter is regenerated in accordance with an operation of the regeneration instruction operation unit (figure 16A and 16B column 17 line 1-15 when regen switch 31 is pressed; regen exhaust filter symbol on 42 and contents on alert screen S2 displayed on 28 regen warning and progress). Regarding claim 5, Uehara teaches wherein the display screen of the display device has a first display area (42 exhaust filter symbol column 17 line 1-20) in which the warning is displayed and a second display area (28 figure 4a column 18 line 15-20) that is located out of alignment with the first display area and in which the progress of the regeneration is displayed. Regarding clam 8, Uehara teaches wherein the display device displays a notification of completion of the regeneration of the filter when the regeneration of the filter is completed. (column 19 line 11-25 when regen is satisfied… alert screen S2 figure 11a displayed on 28 to a previous display (e.g. home screen S1 figure 8)). Regarding claim 9, Uehara teaches wherein the display device deletes the display of the progress of the regeneration when the regeneration of the filter is completed. (column 19 line 11-25 when regen is satisfied… alert screen S2 figure 11a displayed on 28 to a previous display (e.g. home screen S1 figure 8)). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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) 6-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Uehara et al (US Patent No. 10,378,414). Regarding claim 6, Uehara teaches wherein the second display area (28 figure 4a) is located above the first display area (30 figure 4a) on the display screen. Uehhara does not explicitly teach that the second display is above the first display on the display screen. However it would have been obvious to do as it is well known to have 2 separate windows on one screen. (see US Patent No. 6,600,500), It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have 2 displays on top of each other on one screen since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 7, Uehara teaches a first display (area 42 figure 6, 15 A+B) Uehara does not explicitly teach that the first display is in the center of the screen. However it would have been obvious as it is well known to put a display at the center of a screen (see US Patent No. 6,600,500), It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have a first display at the center of the screen, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Claim(s) 3-4, 10-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Uehara et al (US Patent No. 10,378,414) in view of Quigley et al (US PG Pub No. 2009/0198402) Regarding claim 3, Uehara does not explicitly teach however Quigley teaches further comprising: a deletion instruction operation unit that is operated by an operator and receives a deletion instruction to delete display of the warning, (figure 8 paragraph 41 an activated regen can be canceled) wherein the display device deletes the display of the warning when the deletion instruction operation unit is operated while displaying the progress (paragraph 41 regen failed message is an indication that “regen in progress” message is deleted). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Uehara based on the teachings of Quigley to teach further comprising: a deletion instruction operation unit that is operated by an operator and receives a deletion instruction to delete display of the warning, wherein the display device deletes the display of the warning when the deletion instruction operation unit is operated while displaying the progress. The motivation would be to enable operator to put the car in gear (Quigley paragraph 41) Regarding claim 4, Uehara does not explicitly teach however Quigley teaches wherein the display device displays the warning and, at the same time, displays additional information indicating that deletion of the display of the warning by an operation of the deletion instruction operation unit is possible. (paragraph 41 activated regen in progress is warning and additional information is disable regen in figure 8) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Uehara based on the teachings of Quigley to teach wherein the display device displays the warning and, at the same time, displays additional information indicating that deletion of the display of the warning by an operation of the deletion instruction operation unit is possible. The motivation would be to enable operator to put the car in gear (Quigley paragraph 41). Regarding claim 10, Uehara does not explicitly teach however Quigley teaches wherein the display device displays interruption information related to interruption of the regeneration when the regeneration of the filter is interrupted. (figure 8 paragraph 41 “cancel regen” and “regen failed”) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Uehara based on the teachings of Quigley to teach wherein the display device displays interruption information related to interruption of the regeneration when the regeneration of the filter is interrupted. The motivation would be to enable operator to put the car in gear (Quigley paragraph 41). Regarding claim 11, Uehara does not explicitly teach however Quigley teaches wherein the interruption information includes notification information indicating that the regeneration has been interrupted. (figure 8 paragraph 41 “cancel regen” and “regen failed”). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Uehara based on the teachings of Quigley to teach wherein the interruption information includes notification information indicating that the regeneration has been interrupted. The motivation would be to enable operator to put the car in gear (Quigley paragraph 41). Regarding claim 12, Uehara does not explicitly teach however Quigley teaches wherein the display device displays the notification information in the display area for the warning. (figure 8 paragraph 41 “cancel regen” and “regen failed”). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Uehara based on the teachings of Quigley to teach wherein the display device displays the notification information in the display area for the warning. The motivation would be to enable operator to put the car in gear (Quigley paragraph 41). Regarding claim 13, Uehara does not explicitly teach however Quigley teaches wherein the interruption information includes abnormality information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the regeneration.( figure 8 paragraph 41 “cancel regen” and “regen failed”). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Uehara based on the teachings of Quigley to teach wherein the interruption information includes abnormality information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the regeneration. The motivation would be to enable operator to put the car in gear (Quigley paragraph 41). Regarding claim 14, Uehara does not explicitly teach however Quigley teaches wherein the display device displays the abnormality information in the display area for the progress of the regeneration. (paragraph 41 regen in progress.. regen failed or disable regen figure 8). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify Uehara based on the teachings of Quigley to teach wherein the display device displays the abnormality information in the display area for the progress of the regeneration. The motivation would be to enable operator to put the car in gear (Quigley paragraph 41). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GEORGE C. JIN whose telephone number is (571)272-9898. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-6PM. 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, Lindsay Low can be reached at (571) 272-1196. 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. /GEORGE C JIN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 3 earlier events
Aug 22, 2024
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Nov 09, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 04, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 14, 2024
Request for Continued Examination
Dec 16, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 11, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Jul 10, 2025
Response Filed
Jul 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+13.0%)
2y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 478 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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