Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/181,657

COMPOSITE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
Mar 10, 2023
Priority
Jun 22, 2022 — provisional 63/366,783
Examiner
SENGUPTA, SONYA MAZUMDAR
Art Unit
1745
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
The Boeing Company
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
69%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 69% — above average
69%
Career Allowance Rate
495 granted / 721 resolved
+3.7% vs TC avg
Strong +20% interview lift
Without
With
+20.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
738
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
50.2%
+10.2% vs TC avg
§102
25.6%
-14.4% vs TC avg
§112
20.6%
-19.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 721 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
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 Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 8-14 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. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows: Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. Claims 8-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim recites performing a lamination process. The “dividing of the master file into a plurality of zones” can be done mentally (mapping or evaluation); and “associating the zones with corresponding portions of the lamination surface” and “compensating a composite placement operation based on the spatial relationship between the master target-data and the master surface-data for the zones represented by the master file.” are abstract ideas. Essentially, the limitations are interpreted as dividing up the master file and then matching zones. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SONYA M SENGUPTA whose telephone number is (571)272-6019. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5:00pm. 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, Philip Tucker can be reached at 571-272-1095. 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. /SONYA M SENGUPTA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1745
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 8 earlier events
Jan 30, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 27, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Mar 06, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101
Jun 03, 2026
Interview Requested
Jun 10, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jun 11, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Jun 24, 2026
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12742296
Laminated tufted good
1y 2m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12734784
LAMINATE, RELEASE AGENT COMPOSITION, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PROCESSED SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE
2y 4m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12718716
RELEASE FILM AND HOLE INSPECTION METHOD USING THE SAME
1y 7m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Patent 12709045
DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CURING A TUBE LINER
1y 4m to grant Granted Aug 18, 2026
Patent 12697783
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A STRIP OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL INTENDED TO FORM A TUBULAR STRUCTURE AND CORRESPONDING INSTALLATION
1y 9m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
69%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+20.1%)
3y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 721 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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