Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/147,496

SUPERSTRATE COMPRISING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE LAYER

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 28, 2022
Examiner
HON, SOW FUN
Art Unit
1782
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
58%
Grant Probability
Moderate
2-3
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 58% of resolved cases
58%
Career Allow Rate
449 granted / 777 resolved
-7.2% vs TC avg
Strong +64% interview lift
Without
With
+63.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
815
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
54.7%
+14.7% vs TC avg
§102
15.0%
-25.0% vs TC avg
§112
23.2%
-16.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 777 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 . Response to Amendment Withdrawn Rejection The 35 U.S.C. 102(a/1,2) rejection of claims 19-20 over Hao is withdrawn due to Applicant’s amendment filed on October 30, 2025. Response to Request for Reconsideration Withdrawn Rejection The 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejection of claims 1-20 is withdrawn due to Applicant’s clarification that the term “superstrate” describes a laminate which contains three layers: a core body, an electrically conductive layer and a capping layer, in the remarks section of the response filed on October 30, 2025. New Rejection Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. It is unclear in claim 1, how the core body can have an electrical conductivity of 1010 S/m, which is so many more magnitudes greater than the electrical conductivity of the so-called “electrically conductive layer” of 10-4 S/m, when the term “electrically conductive layer” conventionally allocates greater electrical conductivity. It is unclear in claim 19, whether the sub-step of “solidifying the coating composition” involves removing solvent from the coating composition, in which case, the coating composition contains solvent which liquifies the coating composition”, or polymerizing and/or coupling liquid reactants forming the coating composition, resulting in solidification of the coating composition. Claims 2-18 depend on and include all the subject matter of claim 1, and claim 20 depends on and includes all the subject matter of claim 19, but all fail to provide any solutions for the indefinite issues described above. Clarification accompanied by relevant citation(s) from the specification and/or a teaching reference are required. Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Sow-Fun Hon whose telephone number is (571)272-1492. The examiner is on a flexible schedule but can usually be reached during a regular workweek between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Aaron Austin, can be reached at (571)272-8935. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571)273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Center (https://patentcenter.uspto.gov). Should you have any questions on the Patent Center system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /Sophie Hon/ Sow-Fun Hon Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1782
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 28, 2022
Application Filed
Jul 26, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Oct 30, 2025
Response Filed
Feb 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (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

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
58%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+63.7%)
3y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 777 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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