Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/246,549

DIELECTRIC MATERIAL FOR A HIGH VOLTAGE CAPACITOR

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Mar 24, 2023
Priority
Oct 01, 2020 — provisional 63/086,318 +2 more
Examiner
THOMAS, ERIC W
Art Unit
2847
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
3M Innovative Properties Company
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
80%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
1042 granted / 1264 resolved
+14.4% vs TC avg
Minimal -2% lift
Without
With
+-2.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
1293
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
76.7%
+36.7% vs TC avg
§102
9.4%
-30.6% vs TC avg
§112
4.8%
-35.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1264 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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 8/8/2025 has been entered. 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 23 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 23, line 13, the limitation, “a relative permittivity greater than 4 (or less than 10)” is confusing. Is the relative permittivity greater than 4 and less than 10? Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1, 4-7, 11-15, 17, 19-21 are allowed. Claim 23 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: In combination with the other claim limitations, the prior art does not teach or suggest a high voltage capacitor for a voltage divider: wherein the first dielectric filler is one of silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide in an amount of from about 20 vol. % to about 45 vol. %, wherein the second dielectric filler is strontium titanate in an amount of from about 5 vol. % to about 20 vol. %, wherein the first dielectric filler and the second dielectric filler are disposed in the continuous, insulating polymer matrix such that the capacitance of the dielectric material does not vary by more than +/- 0.5% in the temperature range of -20°C to 60°C and the high voltage capacitor is useable with a line voltage of greater than 6 kV, wherein the dielectric material is disposed between the high voltage electrode and the measurement electrode (claim 1); wherein the first dielectric filler, the second dielectric filler, and the high thermal conductivity filler are disposed in the continuous, insulating polymer matrix such that the dielectric material is characterized by a capacitance that does not vary by more than +/- 0.5% in the temperature range of -20°C to 60°C, wherein the first dielectric filler is one of silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide in an amount of from about 20 vol. % to about 45 vol. %, wherein the second dielectric filler is strontium titanate in an amount of from about 5 vol. % to about 20 vol. %, wherein the high thermal conductivity filler has a thermal conductivity greater than 30 W/m K as determined by ASTM D5470-17, wherein the dielectric material is disposed between the high voltage electrode and the measurement electrode, and wherein the high voltage capacitor is useable with a line voltage of greater than 6 kV (claim 7); and comprising a dielectric material consisting essentially of: a first dielectric filler, and a second dielectric filler, and a continuous, insulating polymer matrix, wherein the first dielectric filler is one of silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide in an amount of from about 20 vol.% to about 45 vol.%, wherein the second dielectric filler is strontium titanate in an amount of from about 5 vol.% to about 20 vol.%, wherein the dielectric material has a relative permittivity greater than 4 and less than 10 and a dielectric breakdown strength of at least 15 kV/mm, and wherein the first dielectric filler and second dielectric filler are dispersed homogeneously within the polymer matrix to form a continuous composite layer positioned radially between the high voltage electrode and the measurement electrode.. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIC THOMAS whose telephone number is (571)272-1985. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-2:30 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, Timothy Dole can be reached at (571)272-2229. 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. /ERIC W THOMAS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847 ERIC THOMAS Primary Examiner Art Unit 2847
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Prosecution Timeline

Mar 24, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 30, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 29, 2025
Response Filed
May 15, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 08, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Aug 11, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 25, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12683078
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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
82%
Grant Probability
80%
With Interview (-2.1%)
2y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1264 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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