Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/081,563

PIEZOELECTRIC SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 14, 2022
Priority
Dec 20, 2021 — FR 2113997
Examiner
GORDON, BRYAN P
Art Unit
2837
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
77%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 77% — above average
77%
Career Allowance Rate
747 granted / 972 resolved
+8.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
995
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
87.9%
+47.9% vs TC avg
§102
6.9%
-33.1% vs TC avg
§112
1.9%
-38.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 972 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) 1-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Uehara (PG Pub 20200018794). Considering claim , Uehara (Figures 2 + 9) teaches a piezoelectric system comprising: a piezoelectric resonator comprising a piezoelectric element (10 + paragraph 0031) and a pair of electrodes (11 + 12 + paragraph 0076) configured to transmit signals emitted by the piezoelectric element and generated by a mechanical deformation of the piezoelectric element (paragraphs 0025-0026); a detector (30 + paragraph 0027) configured to detect at least two signals of the signals generated by the deformation of the piezoelectric element, the at least two signals being detected at different instants (paragraph 0043); a control unit (50 + paragraph 0032) configured to compared the at least two signals and, on the basis of the comparison, determine a compares active impedance value as a function of a predetermined law; and an active impedance unit (80 + paragraph 0026) configured to generate an active impedance based on the complex active impedance value determined by the control unit, the active impedance being connected to the pair of electrodes (paragraph 0041) Considering claim 2, Uehara (Figures 2 + 9) teaches wherein the system comprises a memory unit (60 + paragraph 0030) configured to save the at least two signals. Considering claim 3, Uehara (Figures 2 + 9) teaches wherein the active impedance comprises a resistance (RA4 + paragraph 0074) and/or an inductance and/or a capacitance. Considering claim 4, Uehara (Figure 4) teaches wherein the active impedance comprises a capacitance of negative value, an absolute value of the capacitance of negative value being less than an absolute value of an intrinsic capacitance Cp of the piezoelectric element (CA1 + paragraph 0074). Considering claim 5, Uehara (Figures 2 + 9) teaches wherein the active impedance unit comprises an operational amplifier (74 + paragraph 0050). Considering claim 6, Uehara (Figures 2 + 9) teaches wherein the control unit (50 + paragraph 0032) is configured to increase a capacitance value of the active impedance when a first signal of the at least two signals is greater thana second signal of the at least two signals, and reduced a capacitance value of the impedance when the first signal is less than the second signals, wherein the first signal is detected at a first instant and the second signal is detected at a second instant, the first instant preceding the second instant (paragraph 0074). Considering claim 7, Uehara teaches wherein the detector is configured to wait for a predetermined time between the detection of the first signal and the detection of the second signal (paragraphs 0043-0045). Considering claim 8, Uehara (Figures 2 + 9) teaches an adjustment method for adjusting piezoelectric signals of a piezoelectric resonator comprising a piezoelectric element (10 + paragraph 0031) and a pair of electrodes (11 + 12 + paragraph 0076) configured to transmit piezoelectric signals emitted by the piezoelectric element and generated by a mechanical deformation of the piezoelectric element, the method comprising: detecting a first signal of the piezoelectric signals emitted (30 + paragraphs 0043-0045) by the piezoelectric element at an instant t; detecting a second signal of the piezoelectric signals emitted by the piezoelectric element at an instant t +1, t being different from t + 1 (30 + paragraphs 0043-0045); comparing the first signal and the second signal (paragraphs 0043-0045); determining a complex active impedance value on the basis of the comparison (92 + paragraph 0043) and as a function of a predetermined law and generating an active impedance connected to the pair of electrodes, the active impedance being based on the complex active impedance value ((80 + paragraph 0026). Considering claim 9, Uehara (Figures 2 + 9) teaches wherein the method is repeated successively several times and each time the method is repeated, the first signal becomes the second signal (paragraphs 0043-0045 + limitation is the goal of the invention). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRYAN P GORDON whose telephone number is (571)272-5394. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.. 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, Dedei K Hammond can be reached at 571-270-7938. 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. /BRYAN P GORDON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 14, 2022
Application Filed
Feb 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
77%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+14.3%)
2y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 972 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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