Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/148,750

Connector

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Dec 30, 2022
Priority
Jul 03, 2020 — JP 2020-115360 +1 more
Examiner
DINH, PHUONG K
Art Unit
2831
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
TE Connectivity Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
1040 granted / 1193 resolved
+19.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+9.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 9m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
1209
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
61.4%
+21.4% vs TC avg
§102
16.9%
-23.1% vs TC avg
§112
8.7%
-31.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1193 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 . Specification The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Different numerals “30 and 90” are used for inner shell. The same numeral “30” used for front shell in the paragraphs 0029, etc. and inner shell in the paragraph 0035, etc. The same numeral “10” used for outer housing in the paragraphs 0027, etc. and main housing in the paragraph 0033. Appropriate correction is required. 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. Claim 14 is 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 14, line 3, “an up-down direction” is unclear and should be changed to – the up-down direction. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-13, 15-17, 19, 21-22 are allowed. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Claims 1, 13, 15, the applicant’s remarks on pages 6-8 of the amendment filed on 12/31/2025 overcome to the rejection. Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) with the amendment have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHUONG K DINH whose telephone number is (571)272-2090. The examiner can normally be reached M-F from 8:30 am - 5:30 pm. 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, Riyami A Abdullah can be reached at 571-270-3119. 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. /PHUONG K DINH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 2 earlier events
Jun 25, 2025
Response Filed
Jul 02, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 18, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 02, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 03, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 16, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Dec 31, 2025
Response Filed
May 20, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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TEMPERATURE DETECTION DEVICE FOR A PLUG CONNECTOR PART
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Patent 12677876
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1y 7m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12677356
DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR SENSING TEMPERATURE IN INDUCTION HEATING SYSTEMS
1y 11m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12658630
CONNECTOR UNIT
2y 5m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
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AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD UTILIZING A FLAVORING RESERVOIR
3y 3m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+9.0%)
1y 9m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1193 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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