Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/329,506

High millimeter-wave Frequency Gain-Boosting Power Amplifier with Differential Complex Neutralization Feedback Network

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 05, 2023
Examiner
PINERO, JOSE E
Art Unit
2843
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 5m
To Grant
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allow Rate
71 granted / 80 resolved
+20.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
112
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
40.4%
+0.4% vs TC avg
§102
55.4%
+15.4% vs TC avg
§112
4.3%
-35.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 80 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 4/4/2024 is acknowledged. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. 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)(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. Claims 1 – 4 and 6 – 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 FILLIN "Insert either \“(a)(1)\” or \“(a)(2)\” or both. If paragraph (a)(2) of 35 U.S.C. 102 is applicable, use form paragraph 7.15.01.aia, 7.15.02.aia or 7.15.03.aia where applicable." \d "[ 2 ]" (a)(1) as being FILLIN "Insert either—clearly anticipated—or—anticipated—with an explanation at the end of the paragraph." \d "[ 3 ]" anticipated by FILLIN "Insert the prior art relied upon." \d "[ 4 ]" Kim ( US 20230327626 A1 ) . Regarding Independent Claim 1, Kim teaches, An apparatus (Fig. 3, 300) comprising: an amplifier core (Fig. 3, 340 , 346-1, and 346-2 ) having a differential complex neutralization circuit [See paragraph [0043], “ In order to increase power and gain, a cascode or a stacked structure may be applied, differential and capacitor neutralization ( Cneu ) technology may be applied to improve the gain, stability, and power in a millimeter wave band (e.g., 28/39/60 GHz), and the same technology may be applied to implementation of a cascode /stacked power amplifier. ” ] configured to receive an input signal (Fig. 3, signal received at 344-1 and 344-2) and generate an output signal (Fig. 3, signal outputted at 352-1 and 352-2) having a device gain boosting over a wide bandwidth [See paragraph [0043], “ In order to increase power and gain, a cascode or a stacked structure may be applied, differential and capacitor neutralization ( Cneu ) technology may be applied to improve the gain, stability, and power in a millimeter wave band (e.g., 28/39/60 GHz), and the same technology may be applied to implementation of a cascode /stacked power amplifier. ” ] . Regarding claim 2, The apparatus (Fig. 3, 300) of claim 1, wherein the differential complex neutralization circuit includes: a first amplifier (Fig. 3, 342-1) having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal (Fig. 3, 342-1 has three terminals) ; a second amplifier (Fig. 3, 342-2) having a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, and a sixth terminal (Fig. 3, 342-2 has three terminals) ; a first transmission line (Fig. 3, transmission line from 342-1 to 342-2 through 346-2) coupling the first terminal of the first amplifier to the sixth terminal of the second amplifier through a first neutralization capacitor (Fig. 3, 346-2) ; and a second transmission line (Fig. 3, transmission line from 342-2 to 342-1 through 346-1) coupling the fourth terminal of the second amplifier to the third terminal of the first amplifier through a second neutralization capacitor (Fig. 3, 346-1) . Regarding claim 3, The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the third terminal of the first amplifier and the sixth terminal of the second amplifier couple to a ground plane through a first and second vias (Fig. 3, 344-1 and 344-2 are coupled to ground together) . Regarding claim 4, The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first terminal of the first amplifier and the fourth terminal of the second amplifier couple to respective power inputs through a third and fourth vias (Fig. 3, 342-1 and 342-2 are respectively coupled to 344-1 and 344-2) . Regarding claim 6, The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first neutralization capacitor, the second neutralization capacitor, the first amplifier, and the second amplifier are arranged in parallel orientation to one another (Fig. 3, 342-1, 342-2, 346-1, 346-2 are arranged in parallel o rientation to one another ) . Regarding claim 7, The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line cross-over (Fig. 3, the transmission lines cross-over symmetrically) each other at a point of symmetry in each of the respective first transmission line and the second transmission line. Regarding claim 8, The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second terminal of the first amplifier and the fifth terminal of the second amplifier are coupled through an embedded transmission line (Fig. 3, 342-1 and 342-2 are coupled together) . Regarding claim 9, The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second amplifier core (Fig. 3, 350) that operatively couples to the amplifier core (Fig. 3, 340) , the second amplifier core having a second differential complex neutralization circuit [See paragraph [0043], “ In order to increase power and gain, a cascode or a stacked structure may be applied, differential and capacitor neutralization ( Cneu ) technology may be applied to improve the gain, stability, and power in a millimeter wave band (e.g., 28/39/60 GHz), and the same technology may be applied to implementation of a cascode /stacked power amplifier. ” ] . Regarding claim 10, The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second amplifier core (Fig. 3, 350) that operatively couples to the amplifier core (Fig. 3, 340) , the second amplifier core not having the differential complex neutralization circuit [See paragraph [0043], “ In order to increase power and gain, a cascode or a stacked structure may be applied, differential and capacitor neutralization ( Cneu ) technology may be applied to improve the gain, stability, and power in a millimeter wave band (e.g., 28/39/60 GHz), and the same technology may be applied to implementation of a cascode /stacked power amplifier. ” ] . Regarding claim 11, The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a coupler-based matching network (Fig. 3, Vc.p 1_1, Vc.p1_2, Vc.p2_1, Vc.p2_2, and the rest of the resistors in 350) that couples to outputs of the differential complex neutralization circuit of the amplifier core. Regarding claim 12, The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a low-loss coupled line (CL) network [See paragraph [0049], “ According to an embodiment, a multi-chain structure may be used to minimize a gain loss of a beam in a mmWave band. ” ] that couples to outputs of the differential complex neutralization circuit of the amplifier core. Regarding claim 13, The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an adaptive bias circuit (Fig. 3, source of 314-1 and 314-2 ) configured to dynamically bias gate voltages (Fig. 3, 314-1 and 314-2 ) of amplifier cores of the apparatus based on the input signal. Regarding claim 14, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the differential complex neutralization circuit is configured in a high-order neutralization network that can achieve multiple gain peaks over a wide BW [See paragraph [0043], “ In order to increase power and gain, a cascode or a stacked structure may be applied, differential and capacitor neutralization ( Cneu ) technology may be applied to improve the gain, stability, and power in a millimeter wave band (e.g., 28/39/60 GHz), and the same technology may be applied to implementation of a cascode /stacked power amplifier. ” ] . Regarding claim 15, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured as a power amplifier, a high-frequency amplifier, a low-noise amplifier, or a combination thereof (Fig. 3, the apparatus is a power amplifier) . Regarding claim 16, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured as a single-ended amplifier or a differential amplifier (Fig. 3, the apparatus is configured as a differential amplifier) . Regarding claim 17, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is employed in a telecommunication system [See paragraph [ 0161 ], “ In addition, the programs may be stored in an attachable storage device which may access the electronic device through communication networks such as the Internet, Intranet, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide LAN (WLAN), and Storage Area Network (SAN) or a combination thereof. Such a storage device may access the electronic device via an external port. Furthermore, a separate storage device on the communication network may access a portable electronic device. ” ] . Regarding claim 18, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is employed in a RADAR system [See paragraph [0162], “ In the above-described detailed embodiments of the disclosure, an element included in the disclosure is expressed in the singular or the plural according to presented detailed embodiments. However, the singular form or plural form is selected appropriately to the presented situation for the convenience of description, and the disclosure is not limited by elements expressed in the singular or the plural. Therefore, either an element expressed in the plural may also include a single element or an element expressed in the singular may also include multiple elements. ” ] . Regarding claim 19, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is employed in a medical instrument or an electronic test equipment [See paragraph [0162], “ In the above-described detailed embodiments of the disclosure, an element included in the disclosure is expressed in the singular or the plural according to presented detailed embodiments. However, the singular form or plural form is selected appropriately to the presented situation for the convenience of description, and the disclosure is not limited by elements expressed in the singular or the plural. Therefore, either an element expressed in the plural may also include a single element or an element expressed in the singular may also include multiple elements. ” ] . Regarding claim 20, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured as a continuous mode coupler balun Doherty power amplifier [See paragraph [0162], “ In the above-described detailed embodiments of the disclosure, an element included in the disclosure is expressed in the singular or the plural according to presented detailed embodiments. However, the singular form or plural form is selected appropriately to the presented situation for the convenience of description, and the disclosure is not limited by elements expressed in the singular or the plural. Therefore, either an element expressed in the plural may also include a single element or an element expressed in the singular may also include multiple elements. ” ] . Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Enter examiner's name" \* MERGEFORMAT JOSE E PINERO whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (703)756-4746 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (ET) . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Andrea Lindgren Baltzell can be reached on FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571) 272-5918 . 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. /JOSE E PINERO/ Examiner, Art Unit 2843 /ANDREA LINDGREN BALTZELL/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2843
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 05, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 17, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §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
89%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+7.9%)
3y 5m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 80 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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