Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/294,474

ESTIMATION METHOD OF DEPOSITIONAL SHAPE OF CHARGED MATERIAL INSIDE BLAST FURNACE AND REPLACEMENT METHOD OF COKE INSIDE BLAST FURNACE

Non-Final OA

Filed

Feb 01, 2024

Priority

Aug 17, 2021 — JP 2021-132661 +1 more

Examiner

SMOOT, MORIAH SIMONE MCMIL

Art Unit

1733

Tech Center

1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering

Assignee

JFE Steel Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +5.6% interview lift. Interview lift (+5.6%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 113 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

SMOOT, MORIAH SIMONE MCMIL View full profile →

Grants 64% of resolved cases

Career Allowance Rate

72 granted / 113 resolved

-1.3% vs TC avg

Moderate +6% lift

Without

With

+5.6%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 9m

Avg Prosecution

42 currently pending

Career history

151

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.0%

-39.0% vs TC avg

§103

78.0%

+38.0% vs TC avg

§102

2.8%

-37.2% vs TC avg

§112

7.2%

-32.8% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 113 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 01, 2024

Application Filed

May 07, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/414,956

Patent 12680044

HIGH-CARBON BIOGENIC REAGENTS AND USES THEREOF

2y 5m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/991,642

Patent 12629749

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PARTIAL SINTERING OF POWDER TO CREATE LARGER POWDER PARTICLES FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

3y 6m to grant Granted May 19, 2026

17/771,971

Patent 12624404

METHOD FOR OPERATING BLAST FURNACE

4y 0m to grant Granted May 12, 2026

19/104,476

Patent 12618119

HYDROGEN-RICH BLAST FURNACE IRONMAKING SYSTEM BASED ONMASS-ENERGY CONVERSION, AND PRODUCTION CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR

1y 2m to grant Granted May 05, 2026

17/268,910

Patent 12606883

Binder Formulation

5y 2m to grant Granted Apr 21, 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

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

64%

Grant Probability

69%

With Interview (+5.6%)

2y 9m (~4m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 113 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.