Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/240,508

COOLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SERVER RACKS IN DATA CENTERS

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Aug 31, 2023
Examiner
BUTTAR, MANDEEP S
Art Unit
2835
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Magcale Arnold Castillo
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
434 granted / 543 resolved
+11.9% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+16.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
9 currently pending
Career history
556
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
89.4%
+49.4% vs TC avg
§102
7.0%
-33.0% vs TC avg
§112
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 543 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 1 and 6 have been considered, but are not persuasive. The applicant’s representative argues that Magcale is directed toward general data center wide optimization and not towards a rack-level predictive coordination. However, the office disagrees. The office observes that Magcale’s teachings are not restricted to just a general data center, but can be utilized towards cooling individual racks. These teachings do not preclude a person of ordinary skill in the art from applying Magcale’s principles to a single rack system employing a rear door heat exchanger for cooling. Lastly, the office agrees Magcale fails to disclose vents, however in light of the new grounds of rejection set forth below, the office notes that arguments are not persuasive. New drawings were not included with the remarks/arguments filed on 9/3/2025. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claims 1-8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Weems (U.S 11,737,238) in view of Magcale (U.S 2019/0145645 A1) and Bash (U.S 2004/0217072 A1). In regards to Claim 1, Weems discloses a rear door heat exchanger configured to mount to a rear end of a housing within which an electronic system is contained (Fig.2 and 5, #310/500) the rear door heat exchanger comprising: a coolant distribution unit (Fig.2, #220) operatively coupled to a coolant-carrying channel comprising a coolant inlet plenum (Fig.2, #121) and a coolant outlet (Fig.2, #122) plenum extending there through the housing in a closed loop configuration (Fig.2, #222/221 are both coolant carry plenums extending through the housing in a closed loop configuration); a single or plurality of fans configured to circulate heated air through the coolant carrying channel (Fig.2 and Column 3, lines 35-37, disclose fans behind the computer system used to recirculate air within the closed loop); a return path or closed loop configured to re-circulate air cooled via the coolant carrying channel through the electronic system (Fig.2, #121 in conjunction with #122 is a closed path configured to recirculate air #150/152/151 within the electronic system). Weems fail to disclose: A single or plurality of vents disposed in the return path, configured to dynamically direct cooled air to specific targeted portions of the electronic system, variable frequency drive (VFD) fans; wherein the coolant carrying channel comprises a plurality of configurable internal valves operable to regulate the flow of the liquid according to a pre-defined temperature parameter; and wherein the plurality of configurable internal valves are autonomously controlled by a data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software module is configured to autonomously coordinate operation of the plurality of internal valves, the VFD fans, and the vents to provide predictive multi-parameter thermal management of the electronic system. However, Magcale discloses: Variable frequency drive (VFD) fans and wherein the coolant carrying channel comprises a plurality of configurable internal valves operable to regulate the flow of the liquid according to a pre-defined temperature parameter; and wherein the plurality of configurable internal valves are autonomously controlled by a data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software to provide predictive multi-parameter thermal management of the electronic system (Fig.6-7 and paragraph [0041-0042], which discloses utilizing a DCIM system which controls the VFD fans and one or more adjustable flow control valves (multi-parameters) to adjust the amount of fluid flowing through the RDHX to bring the air temperature within define range using predictive analysis to determine most efficient approach, as such the office notes that with the combination of Weems in view of Magcale, the one or more fans and RDHX (as taught by Weems) would be modified to include VFD fans and internal valves controlled via a DCIM system (as taught by Magcale) to automate temperature regulation). Therefore, it would of have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified the one or more fans and RDHX (as taught by Weems) to further include VFD fans and internal valves controlled via a DCIM system (as taught by Magcale) to automate temperature regulation. By utilizing a DCIM system with adjustable control valves and fans, would provide predictive analytics to adjust the air temperature within the system to adequately and efficiently cool said the electronic system (Magcale, Paragraph [0042]). Furthermore, Weems in view of Magcale fail to disclose: A single or plurality of vents disposed in the return path, configured to dynamically direct cooled air to specific targeted portions of the electronic system controlled via the DCIM. However, Bash discloses: A single or plurality of vents (Fig.4b & 6, #106/108 same as #304a disposed on the rack housing #302a) disposed in the return path (Fig.4b and 6, the vents are disposed in the return path of the cooling air), configured to dynamically direct cooled air to specific targeted portions of the electronic system controlled by a predictive thermal management controller/system (Paragraph [0048-50], which discloses using a controller in conjunction with sensors to determine whether components of the electrical system is overheating or not, and direct said vents to cool said component overheating, as such the office notes that with the combination of Weems in view of Magcale and Bash, the housing comprising a DCIM which controls the valves and fans (as taught by Weems in view of Magcale) would be modified to include a plurality of vents controlled via predictive software (as taught by Bash) to help efficiently and accurately cool the one or more components within the electronic system). Therefore, it would of have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified the housing comprising a DCIM which controls the valves and fans (as taught by Weems in view of Magcale to further include a plurality of vents controlled via predictive software (as taught by Bash) to help efficiently and accurately cool the one or more components within the electronic system. By modifying the DCIM to include additional instructions to control vents based on predictive analytics would allow the system to compensate for fluctuating heat generation while reducing overall power consumption of said system. Additionally, MPEP 2143.02 (I) notes that all the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention could have combined and/or modified the elements as claimed by known methods with no change in their respective functions, and the combination and/or modification would have yielded predictable results to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. As such, modifying the housing to include plurality of vents controlled by a DCIM would be within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention was filed as Magcale discloses utilizing a DCIM to control the cooling components (i.e., valves, fans etc.) efficiently. By utilizing the DCIM to control vents in conjunctions to the other cooling elements would yield predictable results, i.e., measure, analyze, and execute based on information provided to said DCIM for a more efficient and economical cooling (See MPEP 2143.02, citing, KSR Int'l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007)). In regards to Claim 2, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash discloses the rear door heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the coolant distribution unit is further coupled to a heat dissipator (Weems, Fig.2, #220 is coupled to #210 for dissipating heat within the #220). In regards to Claim 3, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash discloses the rear door heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a thermal monitoring sensor configured to measure the exit temperature and the inlet temperature of the circulating air through the electronic system (Magcale, paragraphs [0041-0042], which discloses monitoring sensors to configure the air temperature within the electronic system). In regards to Claim 4, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash discloses the rear door heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising the single or plurality of vents configured to dynamically control the temperature of the electronic system in conjunction with the coolant flow and the air flow; and wherein the single or plurality of vents are sensor-controlled vents positioned to direct the air flow to specific targeted portions of the electronic system (Bash, Fig.6, #106/108/304a, are vents which are controlled via a controller in conjunction with sensors to optimize an airflow through the one or more components of the electronic system see paragraphs [0048-0050]). In regards to Claim 5, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash discloses the rear door heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the single or plurality of variable frequency drive (VFD) fans are further configured to, dynamically control the flow of air based on a thermal measurement (Magcale, paragraph [0042], the VDF fans are controlled via DCIM based on thermal measurements). In regards to Claim 6, Weems discloses a rear door heat exchanger configured to mount to a rear end of a housing within which an electronic system is contained (Fig.2 and 5, #310/500), a method of cooling the electronic system comprising: circulating a coolant via a coolant distribution unit (Fig.2, #220) operatively coupled to a coolant-carrying channel comprising a coolant inlet plenum (Fig.2, #121) and a coolant outlet (Fig.2, #122) plenum extending there through the housing in a closed loop configuration (Fig.2, #222/221 are both coolant carry plenums extending through the housing in a closed loop configuration); a single or plurality of fans configured to circulate heated air through the coolant carrying channel (Fig.2 and Column 3, lines 35-37, disclose fans behind the computer system used to recirculate air within the closed loop); a return path or closed loop configured to re-circulate air cooled via the coolant carrying channel through the electronic system (Fig.2, #121 in conjunction with #122 is a closed path configured to recirculate air #150/152/151 within the electronic system). Weems fail to disclose: VDF fans and regulating a coolant flow through the coolant carrying channel via a plurality of configurable internal valves comprised in the coolant carrying channel according to a pre-defined temperature parameter; and autonomously controlling the plurality of configurable internal valves, the single or plurality of VDS fans, and then vents by a data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software module configured to coordinate liquid flow, airflow, and vent positioning to achieve predictive thermal balancing across the electronic system. However, Magcale discloses: VDF fans and regulating a coolant flow through the coolant carrying channel via a plurality of configurable internal valves comprised in the coolant carrying channel according to a pre-defined temperature parameter; and autonomously controlling the plurality of configurable internal valves by a data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software module configured to coordinate liquid flow and airflow to achieve predictive thermal balancing across the electronic system (Fig.6-7 and paragraph [0041-0042], which discloses utilizing a predictive analytic DCIM system which controls the VFD fans and one or more adjustable flow control valves to adjust the amount of fluid flowing through the RDHX to bring the air temperature within define range, as such the office notes that with the combination of Weems in view of Magcale, the one or more fans and RDHX (as taught by Weems) would be modified to include VFD fans and internal valves controlled via a DCIM system (as taught by Magcale) to automate temperature regulation). Therefore, it would of have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified the one or more fans and RDHX (as taught by Weems) to further include VFD fans and internal valves controlled via a DCIM system (as taught by Magcale) to automate temperature regulation. By utilizing a DCIM system with adjustable control valves and fans, would provide predictive analytics to adjust the air temperature within the system to adequately and efficiently cool said the electronic system (Magcale, Paragraph [0042]). Furthermore, Weems in view of Magcale fail to disclose: directing cooled air to specific targeted portions of the electronic system via a single or plurality of vents disposed in the return path controlled via the DCIM. However, Bash discloses: A single or plurality of vents (Fig.4b & 6, #106/108 same as #304a disposed on the rack housing #302a) disposed in the return path (Fig.4b and 6, the vents are disposed in the return path of the cooling air), configured to dynamically direct cooled air to specific targeted portions of the electronic system controlled by a predictive thermal management controller/system (Paragraph [0048-50], which discloses using a controller in conjunction with sensors to determine whether components of the electrical system is overheating or not, and direct said vents to cool said component overheating, as such the office notes that with the combination of Weems in view of Magcale and Bash, the housing comprising a DCIM which controls the valves and fans (as taught by Weems in view of Magcale) would be modified to include a plurality of vents controlled via predictive software (as taught by Bash) to help efficiently and accurately cool the one or more components within the electronic system). Therefore, it would of have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified the housing comprising a DCIM which controls the valves and fans (as taught by Weems in view of Magcale to further include a plurality of vents controlled via predictive software (as taught by Bash) to help efficiently and accurately cool the one or more components within the electronic system. By modifying the DCIM to include additional instructions to control vents based on predictive analytics would allow the system to compensate for fluctuating heat generation while reducing overall power consumption of said system. Additionally, MPEP 2143.02 (I) notes that all the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention could have combined and/or modified the elements as claimed by known methods with no change in their respective functions, and the combination and/or modification would have yielded predictable results to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. As such, modifying the housing to include plurality of vents controlled by a DCIM would be within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention was filed as Magcale discloses utilizing a DCIM to control the cooling components (i.e., valves, fans etc.) efficiently. By utilizing the DCIM to control vents in conjunctions to the other cooling elements would yield predictable results, i.e., measure, analyze, and execute based on information provided to said DCIM for a more efficient and economical cooling (See MPEP 2143.02, citing, KSR Int'l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007)). In regards to Claim 7, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash discloses the method of claim 6 further comprising dissipating heat captured by the coolant carrying channel by a heat dissipator operatively coupled to the coolant distribution unit (Weems, Fig.2, #220 is coupled to #210 for dissipating heat within the working fluid within #220). In regards to Claim 8, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash discloses the method of claim 6, further comprising measuring the exit temperature and the inlet temperature of the circulating air via a thermal monitoring sensor (Magcale, paragraphs [0041-0042], which discloses monitoring sensors to configure the air temperature within the electronic system). In regards to Claim 9, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash discloses the method of claim 6, Further comprising dynamically controlling the temperature of the electronic system in conjunction with the coolant flow and the air flow via the single or plurality of vents comprised in the return path or closed loop; and wherein the single or plurality of vents are sensor controlled vents positioned for directing the air flow to specific targeted portions of the electronic system (Bash, Fig.6, #106/108/304a, are vents which are controlled via a controller in conjunction with sensors to optimize an airflow through the one or more components of the electronic system see paragraphs [0048-0050]). In regards to Claim 10, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash discloses the method of claim 6, dynamically controlling the flow of air based on a thermal measurement by the single or plurality of variable frequency drive (VFD) fans (Magcale, paragraph [0042], the VDF fans are controlled via DCIM based on thermal measurements). Claims 11 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Weems (U.S 11,737,238) in view of Magcale (U.S 2019/0145645 A1), Bash (U.S 2004/0217072 A1), and Gauthier (U.S 2021/0271299 A1). In regards to Claim 11, Weems discloses a cooling system including a heat exchanger apparatus comprising: an air coolant loop (Fig.2, #151/152/150) in thermal communication with a non-air coolant loop (Fig.2, #222/221); a coolant distribution unit (Fig.2, #220) for heat transfer between the air coolant loop and the non-air coolant loop (Fig.2, #220 is a heat exchanger transferring heat from the air loop to the liquid loop); a single or plurality of fans configured to vary the flow of air across a single or plurality of heat transfer surfaces (Fig.2 and Column 3, lines 35-37, disclose fans behind the computer system used to recirculate air within the closed loop); and wherein heat is transferred from the ambient air to the air loop (Fig.2, #152), and further from the air loop to the non-air loop via coolant distribution unit (Fig.2, #152 through 310 which is in thermal contact with the non-air loop #222/221); and a heat dissipator (Fig.2, #210) thermally coupled to said coolant distribution unit (Fig.2). Weems fails to disclose: A single or plurality of variable frequency drive (VFD) and based on sensor detected temperatures to accurately maintain the temperature of equipment within an acceptable range and wherein the air coolant loop is maintained at a low pressure and high velocity, and is integrated with a plurality of vents controlled in coordination with the VFD fans by a data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software module, and wherein the non-air coolant loop circulates a plant-based liquid coolant to provide environmentally safe operation within the data center. However, Magcale discloses: A single or plurality of variable frequency drive (VFD) and based on sensor detected temperatures to accurately maintain the temperature of equipment within an acceptable range (Fig.6-7 and paragraph [0041-0042], which discloses utilizing a DCIM system which controls the VFD fans to bring the air temperature within define range, as such the office notes that with the combination of Weems in view of Magcale, the one or more fans (as taught by Weems) would be modified to include VFD fans controlled via a DCIM system (as taught by Magcale) to automate temperature regulation). Therefore, it would of have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified the one or more fans (as taught by Weems) to further include VFD fans controlled via a DCIM system (as taught by Magcale) to automate temperature regulation. By utilizing a DCIM system with adjustable fans, would provide predictive analytics to adjust the air temperature within the system to adequately and efficiently cool said the electronic system (Magcale, Paragraph [0042]). Furthermore, Weems in view of Magcale fail to disclose: wherein the air coolant loop is maintained at a low pressure and high velocity, and is integrated with a plurality of vents controlled in coordination with the VFD fans by a data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software module and wherein the non-air coolant loop circulates a plant-based liquid coolant to provide environmentally safe operation within the data center. However, Bash discloses: Wherein the air coolant loop is maintained at a low pressure and high velocity (paragraph [0092], which discloses low volume flow rate with relative high velocity which according to Bernoulli’s principle results in low pressure), and is integrated with a plurality of vents controlled by a data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software module ((Fig.4b & 6, #106/108 same as #304a disposed on the rack housing #302a and Paragraphs [0048-50], which discloses using a controller in conjunction with sensors to determine whether components of the electrical system is overheating or not, and direct said vents to cool said component overheating, as such the office notes that with the combination of Weems in view of Magcale and Bash, the housing comprising a DCIM which controls the valves and fans (as taught by Weems in view of Magcale) would be modified to include a plurality of vents controlled via predictive software (as taught by Bash) to help efficiently and accurately cool the one or more components within the electronic system). Therefore, it would of have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified the housing comprising a DCIM which controls the valves and fans (as taught by Weems in view of Magcale to further include a plurality of vents controlled via predictive software (as taught by Bash) to help efficiently and accurately cool the one or more components within the electronic system. By modifying the DCIM to include additional instructions to control vents based on predictive analytics would allow the system to compensate for fluctuating heat generation while reducing overall power consumption of said system. Additionally, MPEP 2143.02 (I) notes that all the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention could have combined and/or modified the elements as claimed by known methods with no change in their respective functions, and the combination and/or modification would have yielded predictable results to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. As such, modifying the housing to include plurality of vents controlled by a DCIM would be within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention was filed as Magcale discloses utilizing a DCIM to control the cooling components (i.e., valves, fans etc.) efficiently. By utilizing the DCIM to control vents in conjunctions to the other cooling elements would yield predictable results, i.e., measure, analyze, and execute based on information provided to said DCIM for a more efficient and economical cooling (See MPEP 2143.02, citing, KSR Int'l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007)). Furthermore, Weems in view of Magcale and Bash fail to disclose: wherein the non-air coolant loop circulates a plant-based liquid coolant to provide environmentally safe operation within the data center. However, Gauthier discloses: wherein the non-air coolant loop circulates a plant-based liquid coolant to provide environmentally safe operation within the data center (Paragraphs [0032 & 0072], which discloses using plant based coolant (vegetable oil), as such the office notes that with the combination of Weems in view of Magcale, Bash, and Gauthier, the coolant used within the distribution unit (as taught by Weems) would be modified to use plant based coolant (as taught by Gauthier) to cool the ambient air used to cool the electrical system). Therefore, it would of have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified the coolant used within the distribution unit (as taught by Weems) to use plant based coolant (as taught by Gauthier) to cool the ambient air used to cool the electrical system. By utilizing a plant based oil is generally consider more sustainable, non-toxic and environment friendly in case of any leakage. In regards to Claim 13, Weems in view of Magcale, Bash, and Gauthier disclose the cooling system of claim 11, wherein the coolant distribution unit circulates a non-toxic, biodegradable, and leak-safe plant-based liquid coolant within the data center (Gauthier, Paragraph [0032 and 0072], which discloses a non-toxic, biodegradable, and leak safe plant based coolant (vegetable oil)). Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Weems (U.S 11,737,238) in view of Magcale (U.S 2019/0145645 A1), Bash (U.S 2004/0217072 A1), Gauthier (U.S 2021/0271299 A1), and further, in view of Pachoud (CA 2680884 A1). In regards to Claim 12, Weems in view of Magcale, Bash, and Gauthier disclose the cooling system of claim 11. Weems in view of Magcale, Bash, and Gauthier fail to disclose: Wherein the air coolant loop is maintained at a pressure below 5 atmospheres (atm) and configured to circulate air at a velocity between about 75-90 miles per hour. However, Pachoud discloses: Wherein the air coolant loop is maintained at a pressure below 5 atmospheres (atm) and configured to circulate air at a velocity between about 75-90 miles per hour (abstract and Page 7, lines 14-27, which discloses having the air coolant maintained at 3 atmosphere and having an air velocity between 75-90 MPH, as such the office notes that with the combination of Weems in view of Magcale, Bash, and Gauthier, the cooling system configured to provide an closed loop airflow (as taught by Weems) would be modified to maintain an airflow at low pressure of 3 atm and high velocity speed of 75-90 MPH (as taught by Pachoud) to provide significant cooling capacity for the electronic system placed within the housing). Therefore, it would of have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to have modified the cooling system configured to provide an closed loop airflow (as taught by Weems) would be modified to maintain an airflow at low pressure of 3 atm and high velocity speed of 75-90 MPH (as taught by Pachoud) to provide adequate cooling for the electronic system placed within the housing. By using low pressure and high velocity, would allow for simple constructions and reconfiguration with reduced maintenance costs and improved cooling capabilities (Pachoud, Page 3, lines 5-21). Conclusion 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 MANDEEP S BUTTAR whose telephone number is (571)272-4768. The examiner can normally be reached 7:00AM-4:00PM. 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, Jayprakash Gandhi can be reached at 5712723740. 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. /MANDEEP S BUTTAR/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2835
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 31, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Sep 03, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 25, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Feb 26, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12635106
APPARATUS FOR AIR MEASUREMENTS
3y 0m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12635105
COMPUTE-ON-FAN-TRAY-ASSEMBLY (COFTA) SYSTEM
2y 2m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12615733
DEBRIS-RESISTANT COOLING PATH
3y 8m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12610497
Duct Structures for Computing Devices
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
Patent 12604433
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE SENSING SYSTEMS
2y 10m to grant Granted Apr 14, 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
80%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+16.4%)
2y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 543 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