Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 08, 2026
Application No. 18/219,251

Devices and System

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 07, 2023
Priority
Oct 15, 2020 — provisional 63/092,157 +3 more
Examiner
WINDRICH, MARCUS E
Art Unit
3646
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Security Alarms & Co. S A
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
669 granted / 844 resolved
+27.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
23 currently pending
Career history
879
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
9.1%
-30.9% vs TC avg
§103
57.5%
+17.5% vs TC avg
§102
9.7%
-30.3% vs TC avg
§112
20.3%
-19.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 844 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 Claims 1-2, 6-7, 14-15 are rejected under 35 USC 102(a)(1) as being unpatentable over Findlay et al. US 2018/0040222. As to claim 1, Findlay teaches a device comprising: two matched antennas configured to transmit and receive ultra-wideband, UWB signals (esp. c.f. [0014, 0030] teaching UWB signals), an electronic circuit coupled to the matched antennas (esp. c.f. fig.4), the electronic circuit comprising a microprocessor configured to process the received UWB signals and to measure a channel impulse response (esp. c.f. [0068] teaching processing the signals and measuring the response), between a transmitter channel and a receiver channel of the electronic circuit (see fig.3 and [0067] teaching transmitter and receiver channels of the circuit), the microprocessor further configured to convert a time between a transmission of the UWB signals and a receipt of the UWB signals into a distance (esp. c.f. [0066-0067] teaching converting the time between the transmission signals), and the electronic circuit being further configured to detect a target and/or estimate a distance from the device to the target and/or track the target and/or track a distance of the target from the device and/or track a velocity of the target based on the processed UWB signals (see figs. 6-7 and [0062] teaching tracking of the target from the device); and an alarm unit configured to receive, from the machine learning unit, information on the detected target, the information comprising a measurement of CIR confidence intervals and an adaptive threshold (see fig.6 and [0008] teaching alarm unit that cooperates with target detection mechanisms). As to claim 2, Findlay teaches the device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a machine learning unit coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein the machine learning unit comprises a processor and a memory (esp. c.f. [0043, 0057, 0060] teaching machine learning unit with processor and memory), wherein the machine learning unit is configured to detect the target, classify the target, and declare an alarm based on the received UWB signals (see fig.5, [[073, 0083] teaching classifying target and communicating with alarm based on signaling), the machine learning unit further comprising a machine learning algorithm stored in the memory, wherein the machine learning algorithm is configured to detect of the target, classify the target and the declare the alarm (esp. c.f. [0083, 0085-0086] teaching algorithm stored in memory to detect target and communicate with the unit based on the signaling). As to claim 6, Findlay teaches the device of claim 1, further comprising a 3-dimensional system configured to estimate a height of the detected target based on information received from the transmitter channel and/or the receiver channel of the electronic circuit (see fig.3 and [0067]). As to claim 7, Findlay teaches the device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the machine learning unit is configured to determine a position and/or detected target size and/or direction of movement and/or velocity of the detected target, and/or metal object being carried by the detected target, based on the processed UWB signals (see figs. 6-7 and [0062] teaching tracking of the target from the device). As to claim 14, Findlay teaches a device comprising: matched antennas specifically to penetrate various surfaces and to transmit and receive signals through structures (esp. c.f. [0014, 0030] teaching UWB signals), an electronic circuit coupled to the matched antennas (esp. c.f. fig.4), the electronic circuit comprising a microprocessor configured to process the received UWB signals and to measure a channel impulse response (esp. c.f. [0068] teaching processing the signals and measuring the response), between a transmitter channel and a receiver channel of the electronic circuit (see fig.3 and [0067] teaching transmitter and receiver channels of the circuit), the microprocessor further configured to convert a time between a transmission of the UWB signals and a receipt of the UWB signals into a distance (esp. c.f. [0066-0067] teaching converting the time between the transmission signals), and the electronic circuit being further configured to detect a target and/or estimate a distance from the device to the target and/or track the target and/or track a distance of the target from the device and/or track a velocity of the target based on the processed UWB signals (see figs. 6-7 and [0062] teaching tracking of the target from the device); and an alarm unit configured to receive, from the machine learning unit, information on the detected target, the information comprising a measurement of CIR confidence intervals and an adaptive threshold (see fig.6 and [0008] teaching alarm unit that cooperates with target detection mechanisms). As to claim 15, Findlay teaches a device comprising: a transmitter and receiver configured to transmit/receive UWB signals (esp. c.f. [0014, 0030] teaching UWB signals), an electronic circuit coupled to the matched antennas (esp. c.f. fig.4), the electronic circuit comprising a microprocessor configured to process the received UWB signals and to measure a channel impulse response (esp. c.f. [0068] teaching processing the signals and measuring the response), between a transmitter channel and a receiver channel of the electronic circuit (see fig.3 and [0067] teaching transmitter and receiver channels of the circuit), the microprocessor further configured to convert a time between a transmission of the UWB signals and a receipt of the UWB signals into a distance (esp. c.f. [0066-0067] teaching converting the time between the transmission signals), and the electronic circuit being further configured to detect a target and/or estimate a distance from the device to the target and/or track the target and/or track a distance of the target from the device and/or track a velocity of the target based on the processed UWB signals (see figs. 6-7 and [0062] teaching tracking of the target from the device); and an alarm unit configured to receive, from the machine learning unit, information on the detected target, the information comprising a measurement of CIR confidence intervals and an adaptive threshold (see fig.6 and [0008] teaching alarm unit that cooperates with target detection mechanisms). Claim Objections Claims 3-5 and 8-13 are objected to for depending upon rejected base claims but would otherwise be allowable. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Bo Fan whose telephone number is (571)-272-3013. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F from 9AM to 5:30PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Jack Keith, can be reached at (571)272-6878. 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 Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). /Bo Fan/ Examiner, Art Unit 3646
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 07, 2023
Application Filed
Sep 10, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Dec 22, 2025
Response Filed
Aug 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12699179
METHOD FOR GENERATING RADAR PROJECTIONS TO REPRESENT ANGULAR UNCERTAINTY
4y 3m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12699172
FMCW RADAR WITH DYNAMIC WAVEFORM MODEL BASED ON EGO MOTION
2y 10m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12687607
Assisted Radar Congestion Mitigation
3y 8m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12657906
SURFACE WATER MONITORING METHOD AND APPARATUS, COMPUTER DEVICE, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
2y 7m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12644958
METALIZED PLASTIC HOUSING ENCLOSURE HEAT SINK
3y 10m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
79%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+6.8%)
2y 9m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 844 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month