Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/231,770

SYSTEM COMPRISING PACKAGED OPTICAL DEVICES

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 08, 2023
Priority
Dec 03, 2019 — continuation of 10/903,907 +1 more
Examiner
DOBSON, DANIEL G
Art Unit
2634
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
529 granted / 648 resolved
+19.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
10 currently pending
Career history
660
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
§103
72.2%
+32.2% vs TC avg
§102
13.9%
-26.1% vs TC avg
§112
6.0%
-34.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 648 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 . Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I in the reply filed on 02/17/2026 is acknowledged. The election/restriction requirement of the previous action is made final. Claims Claims 8-20 are cancelled. Claims 21-33 are new. Claims 1-7 and 21-33 are pending and examined. 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. Claim(s) 1-3, 21-28, 30-33 are is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by United States Patent Application Publication 2018/0083417 A1 to Pezeshki et al. Regarding Claim 1, Pezeshki discloses a system comprising optical devices (Fig’s. 1,2, and 4A, switch module with optical input/output) , the system comprising: a carrier (¶ 29, substrate underlying the switch, optical assemblies and PLCs); a light source over the carrier (Fig. 4A, laser (411a)); a first device over the carrier (Fig. 4A, modulator (413a)); a second device over the carrier (Fig. 1, switch (113)); and additional first devices disposed adjacent to one side of the second device (Fig. 4A, modulators (413b-d) on one side of the switch (113)), wherein the first device and the additional first devices share the light source (Fig. 4A, modulators (413a-d) share laser 411a), and the first device and the additional first devices are at a same side of the second device (Fig. 4A, modulators (413a-d) on same side of switch (113)). Regarding Claim 2, Pezeshki discloses wherein the second device comprises four sides, and the four sides comprise a first side and a second side substantially parallel to each other (Fig. 1, switch (113) with four sides, being a rectangle opposite sides are parallel to each other.) Regarding Claim 3, Pezeshki discloses an optical fiber connected to the first device, wherein the optical fiber comprises a first portion extending along a first direction, and a second portion extending along a second direction different from the first direction (Fig. 1, connector (100) for a fiber that connects to another transceiver at the far end, the near end extends towards the connector (100) in a direction, the far end connects to a connector in the opposite direction.) Regarding Claim 21, Pezeshki discloses wherein the second device has a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a third side substantially perpendicular to the first side, wherein the first device is disposed at the first side of the second device and the light source is free from overlapping the first device in a first direction substantially parallel to the third side in a top view perspective (Fig. 1, switch (113) is free from overlapping the optical assembly (111)). Regarding Claim 22, Pezeshki discloses wherein the light source is free from overlapping the first device in a second direction substantially parallel to the first side of the second device in the top view perspective (Fig. 4A, lasers (411a-d) are free from overlapping modulator (413a)). Regarding Claim 23, Pezeshki discloses wherein the system further comprises additional light sources, wherein a number of the additional light sources is different from a number of the additional first devices (¶¶ 44-46, any number of additional light sources may be used different from the number of modulators). Regarding Claim 24, Pezeshki discloses wherein the number of the additional light sources is less than the number of the additional first devices (¶¶ 44-46, one additional light source powers three additional modulators.) Regarding Claim 25, Pezeshki discloses wherein the first side and the second side of the second device are substantially parallel to each other (Fig. 1, switch (113) with four sides, being a rectangle opposite sides are parallel to each other.) Regarding Claim 26, Pezeshki discloses wherein two or more of the additional first devices are at the first side of the second device, and another two or more of the additional first devices are at the second side of the second device (Fig. 1, many additional modulators in optical assemblies (111) on all sides of switch (113)). Regarding Claim 27, Pezeshki discloses wherein two or more of the additional first devices are at the first side of the second device, and another two or more of the additional first devices are at the second side of the second device (Fig. 1, many additional modulators in optical assemblies (111) on all sides of switch (113)). Regarding Claim 28, Pezeshki discloses a system comprising optical devices (Fig’s. 1,2, and 4A, switch module with optical input/output) , the system comprising: a carrier (¶ 29, substrate underlying the switch, optical assemblies and PLCs); a light source over the carrier (Fig. 4A, laser (411a)); a first device over the carrier (Fig. 4A, modulator (413a)); a second device over the carrier (Fig. 1, switch (113)); and additional first devices disposed adjacent to one side of the second device (Fig. 4A, modulators (413b-d) on one side of the switch (113)), wherein the first device and the additional first devices share the light source (Fig. 4A, modulators (413a-d) share laser 411a), and some of the additional first devices are disposed substantially parallel to each other in a top view perspective (Fig. 4A, modulators (413a-d) substantially parallel to each other.) Regarding Claim 30, Pezeshki discloses wherein the light source is free from overlapping the first device in a second direction substantially parallel to the first side of the second device in the top view perspective (Fig. 4A, lasers (411a-d) are free from overlapping modulator (413a)). Regarding Claim 31, Pezeshki discloses a system comprising optical devices (Fig’s. 1,2, and 4A, switch module with optical input/output) , the system comprising: a carrier (¶ 29, substrate underlying the switch, optical assemblies and PLCs); a light source over the carrier (Fig. 4A, laser (411a)); a first device over the carrier (Fig. 4A, modulator (413a)); a second device over the carrier (Fig. 1, switch (113)); and additional first devices disposed at a same side of the second device (Fig. 4A, modulators (413b-d) on one side of the switch (113)), wherein the first device and the additional first devices share the light source (Fig. 4A, modulators (413a-d) share laser 411a), and wherein an elevation of a top surface of the first device is higher than an elevation of a top surface of the second device (Fig. 1, optical assemblies (111) are higher than switch (113)). Regarding Claim 32, Pezeshki discloses wherein the additional first devices are arranged in a side-by-side manner at the same side of the second device (Fig. 4A, modulators (413a-d) in side-by-side manner.) Regarding Claim 33, Pezeshki discloses additional light sources wherein the number of the additional light sources is less than the number of the additional first devices (¶¶ 44-46, one additional light source powers three additional modulators.) Allowable Subject Matter Claims 4-7 and 29 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. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL G DOBSON whose telephone number is (571)272-9781. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 EST. 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, Kenneth Vanderpuye can be reached at 5712723078. 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. /DANIEL G DOBSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2634 05/30/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 08, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §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
82%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+7.0%)
2y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 648 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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