Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/305,459

COMPONENT, APPARATUS, AND OPTICAL APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Apr 24, 2023
Priority
May 24, 2022 — JP 2022-084487
Examiner
MCKINNON, LASHAWNDA T
Art Unit
1789
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
53%
Grant Probability
Moderate
2-3
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 53% of resolved cases
53%
Career Allowance Rate
396 granted / 743 resolved
-11.7% vs TC avg
Strong +31% interview lift
Without
With
+30.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
54 currently pending
Career history
819
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
92.3%
+52.3% vs TC avg
§102
3.8%
-36.2% vs TC avg
§112
2.9%
-37.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 743 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 § 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. Claims 1-5 and 7-20 are 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 1 is rejected for the recitation of “…a pour point equal to or lower than -30̊C and boiling point equal to or higher than 350̊C”. It is unclear how an infinite pour point lower than -30 degrees Celsius or an infinite boiling point above 350 degrees Celsius could be attained. Applicant is advised to amend the claim language to recite a closed range. Support in the specification appears to exist for a lower limit on the boiling point of -50 degrees Celsius and an upper limit on the boiling point of 476 degrees Celsius. Claim 7 is rejected for the recitation of “…a pour point equal to or lower than -40̊C and boiling point equal to or higher than 400̊C”. It is unclear how an infinite pour point lower than -40 degrees Celsius or an infinite boiling point above 400 degrees Celsius could be attained. Applicant is advised to amend the claim language to recite a closed range. Support in the specification appears to exist for a lower limit on the boiling point of -50 degrees Celsius and an upper limit on the boiling point of 476 degrees Celsius. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 11/19/2025, with respect to the claims have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 35 USC 103 rejection of the standing claims has been withdrawn. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAWN MCKINNON whose telephone number is (571)272-6116. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Friday generally 8:00am-5:00pm 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, Marla McConnell can be reached at 571-270-7692. 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. /Shawn Mckinnon/Examiner, Art Unit 1789
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 24, 2023
Application Filed
Aug 28, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Nov 19, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (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

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
53%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+30.8%)
3y 5m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 743 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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