Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/442,558

Multichannel Insulation Monitoring Device for an EVSE, Arrangement and Method

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Feb 15, 2024
Priority
Feb 20, 2023 — EU 23157563.0
Examiner
PRETLOW, DEMETRIUS R
Art Unit
2858
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
ABB E-Mobility B V
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
604 granted / 696 resolved
+18.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
735
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.5%
-36.5% vs TC avg
§103
71.3%
+31.3% vs TC avg
§102
4.7%
-35.3% vs TC avg
§112
18.9%
-21.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 696 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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-14 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Drawings The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, regarding claim 12, a plurality of EVSE multichannel insulation monitoring devices (MIMDs), wherein each EVSE MIMD is connected to a monitoring channel must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 12, rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Regarding claim 12 , the disclosure does not provide adequate disclosure of a plurality of EVSE multichannel insulation monitoring devices (MIMDs), wherein each EVSE MIMD is connected to a monitoring channel. [0012] The insulation monitoring may be provided by the MIMD with multiple monitoring channels or an EVSE insulation monitoring device comprising a single IMD with multiple measurements as described further below. Insulation monitoring on each individual bus is necessary when each bus is connected to a separate battery, as well as during cable check. The EV energy transfer session may have various phases, such as cable check and charging. The expression “EV energy transfer session” therefore covers these phases. Further, this expression covers also the energy transfer from the battery to the grid. There is no additional disclosure of any particular structure, either explicitly or inherently, of the plurality if of EVSE multichannel insulation monitoring devices wherein each EVSE MIMD is connected to a monitoring channel. The specification is completely silent as to the manner in which the plurality if of EVSE multichannel insulation monitoring devices wherein each EVSE MIMD is connected to a monitoring channel are implemented. Furthermore the Figures appear to be absent of the plurality if of EVSE multichannel insulation monitoring devices wherein each EVSE MIMD is connected to a monitoring channel. The original disclosure doesn’t reasonably demonstrate that applicant had possession of the claim features at issue because it does not reasonably demonstrate the manner in which these features are implemented by applicant therefore lacks proper written description. Examiner’s Note: Claim 12 stand rejected under 35 USC 112(a) as outlined above. No prior art rejection has been applied to these claims because the prior art of record taken alone or in combination fails to teach the following features recited in these claims: wherein the common controller is configured to assign a monitoring channel of the multiple monitoring channels individually to a direct current (DC) bus and to monitor each DC bus individually when the battery configuration is such that each DC bus is connected to a separate battery or coordinated when the battery configuration is such that more than one DC bus is connected to a single battery as claimed in combination with all other limitations of claim 12. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1,3-11 and 14 are allowed. Upon conclusion of a comprehensive search of the pertinent prior art, the Office indicates that the claims are allowable. Regarding independent claim 1, patentability exists, at least in part, with the claimed features of: wherein, for individually monitoring the insulation or earth leakage current during an electric vehicle (EV) energy transfer session, the control and monitor device is configured to assign a monitoring channel of the multiple monitoring channels individually to a direct current (DC) bus and to monitor each DC bus individually when the battery configuration is such that each DC bus is connected to a separate battery or coordinated in case the battery configuration is such that more than one DC bus is connected to a single battery as claimed in combination with all other limitations of claim 1. Regarding independent claim 14, patentability exists, at least in part, with the claimed features of: wherein the control and monitor device is configured to individually monitor the insulation or earth leakage current for each monitoring channel of the multiple monitoring channels, and wherein, for individually monitoring the insulation or earth leakage current during an electric vehicle (EV) energy transfer session, the control and monitor device is configured to assign a monitoring channel of the multiple monitoring channels individually to a direct current (DC) bus and to monitor each DC bus individually when the battery configuration is such that each DC bus is connected to a separate battery or coordinated incase the battery configuration is such that more than one DC bus is connected to a single battery as claimed in combination with all other limitations of claim 14. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DEMETRIUS R PRETLOW whose telephone number is (571)272-3441. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 5:30-1:30. 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, Lee Rodak can be reached at 571-270-5628. 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. /DEMETRIUS R PRETLOW/ Examiner, Art Unit 2858 /LEE E RODAK/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2858
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 15, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 05, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jan 28, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SHORT CIRCUIT DETECTION IN WIRING HARNESSES
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3y 5m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
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
87%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+7.8%)
2y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 696 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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