Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/368,402

FUEL CELL VEHICLE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 14, 2023
Examiner
WEI, ZHONGQING
Art Unit
1727
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Subaru Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
58%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 6m
To Grant
74%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 58% of resolved cases
58%
Career Allow Rate
231 granted / 400 resolved
-7.2% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+16.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 6m
Avg Prosecution
55 currently pending
Career history
455
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
50.8%
+10.8% vs TC avg
§102
10.1%
-29.9% vs TC avg
§112
31.5%
-8.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 400 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
CTNF 18/368,402 CTNF 92217 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 Sep. 14, 20223 has been considered by the examiner. Specification 06-11 AIA The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 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. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 person shall be entitled to a patent unless – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-12-aia AIA (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-15 AIA Claim s 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1) or 102(a)(2 ) as being anticipated by Hara et al. (US 20200062135 A1, hereafter Hara ) . Regarding claim 1 , Hara teaches a fuel cell vehicle (See the annotated figure below) comprising: a protected component comprising one or more of a battery (93), a fuel cell (92), and a hydrogen supply component (96B); and a hydrogen tank unit (90) configured to store hydrogen gas used for power generation of the fuel cell, and a coupler (97A+97B+97C) coupling the hydrogen tanks to one another, the hydrogen tank unit being disposed so as to cover at least a vertically lower side of the protected component (See the annotated figure below). Note also that it has previously been held that the mere rearrangement of parts without modifying the operation of a device is prima facie obvious. See, e.g., In re Japikse , 181 F.2d 1019, 86 USPQ 70 (CCPA 1950); In re Kuhle, 526 F.2d 553, 188 USPQ 7 (CCPA 1975); and MPEP § 2144.04(VI)(C). PNG media_image1.png 720 1011 media_image1.png Greyscale Moreover, the limitation “hydrogen tanks configured to store hydrogen gas used for power generation of the fuel cell” represent an intended-use of the hydrogen tanks. The hydrogen tanks disclosed by Hara do store hydrogen gas used for power generation of the fuel cell ([0050], [0061]). Regarding claim 2 , Hara teaches the fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen tank unit covers at least a portion of a side of the protected component (See the annotated figure above). Regarding claim 3 , Hara teaches the fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen tanks are cylindrical (“tubular”, [0042]), and the hydrogen tank unit is formed by coupling ports of the cylindrical hydrogen tanks to one another with the coupler (See, 97A, 97B and 97C, Fig. 7 and [0042]). PNG media_image2.png 720 819 media_image2.png Greyscale Regarding claim 4 , Hara teaches the fuel cell vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the hydrogen tanks are cylindrical (“tubular”, [0042]), and the hydrogen tank unit is formed by coupling ports of the cylindrical hydrogen tanks to one another with the coupler (See, 97A, 97B and 97C, Fig. 7 and [0042]). Correspondence Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZHONGQING WEI whose telephone number is (571)272-4809. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 9:30 - 6:00. 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, Barbara Gilliam can be reached at (571)272-1330. 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. /ZHONGQING WEI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1727 Application/Control Number: 18/368,402 Page 2 Art Unit: 1727 Application/Control Number: 18/368,402 Page 3 Art Unit: 1727 Application/Control Number: 18/368,402 Page 4 Art Unit: 1727 Application/Control Number: 18/368,402 Page 5 Art Unit: 1727 Application/Control Number: 18/368,402 Page 6 Art Unit: 1727
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 14, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12597601
ELECTROCHEMICAL ELEMENT, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME, AND ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12586804
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2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12586783
METHOD OF MAKING LITHIUM-ION BATTERY ANODE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12580180
COMPOSITE CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIAL, CATHODE AND LITHIUM BATTERY CONTAINING COMPOSITE CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIAL AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12580230
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2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
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
58%
Grant Probability
74%
With Interview (+16.6%)
3y 6m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 400 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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