Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 04, 2026
Application No. 18/128,159

WATER HARP WITH OPTICAL SENSING OF THE BREAK OF FLOWING WATER STREAMS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Mar 29, 2023
Examiner
DONELS, JEFFREY
Art Unit
2837
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Disney Enterprises Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
1117 granted / 1298 resolved
+18.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
1316
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.3%
-34.7% vs TC avg
§103
23.7%
-16.3% vs TC avg
§102
37.8%
-2.2% vs TC avg
§112
28.2%
-11.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1298 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being fully met by Dietz et al (“Submerging Technologies,” cited by Applicant) . Regarding Claim 1 , Dietz discloses a system for simulating operation of a stringed instrument using water and light streams (“ AquaHarp ”) , comprising: a nozzle configured for outputting a water stream, when supplied by a water source, that falls vertically and is substantially laminar; a light transmitter configured to inject light into a first end of the water stream; a light receiver configured to receive the light injected into the water stream at a second end of the water stream and, in response, to generate a signal; and a controller configured for processing the signal and, in response to a lack of the signal, for operating an audio system to play a musical note or audio file. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-13 are 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. Claims 14-23 are allowed. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The references cited show related teachings in the art . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT JEFFREY DONELS whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-2061 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Dedei Hammond can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (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. FILLIN "Examiner Stamp" \* MERGEFORMAT JEFFREY . DONELS Examiner Art Unit 2837 /JEFFREY DONELS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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Prosecution Timeline

Mar 29, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §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
86%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+10.8%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1298 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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