Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/479,104

AMPLIFIER ASSEMBLY AND PHASE SHIFTING METHOD

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Oct 01, 2023
Priority
Sep 23, 2021 — CN 202111116040.9 +1 more
Examiner
NGUYEN, KHANH V
Art Unit
2843
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Smarter Microelectronics (Guang Zhou) Co. Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
94%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 94% — above average
94%
Career Allowance Rate
1124 granted / 1202 resolved
+25.5% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+2.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 12m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
1219
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
30.5%
-9.5% vs TC avg
§102
39.2%
-0.8% vs TC avg
§112
26.1%
-13.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1202 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 Objections Claims 7 and 14 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 7, line 5, “to the amplification circuit” should be deleted. It appears to be redundant. Claim 14, line 4, “to the amplification circuit” should be deleted. It appears to be redundant. Claim 14, lines 2 and 3, “first isolation circuit” should correctly be “second isolation circuit”. Note, amended claim 12 discloses a first isolation circuit connected to the adder. Appropriate correction is required. 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. Claim 3 is 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. Regarding claim 3, Figs, 3, 4 and 11, which stated “an input end of the phase compensation circuit (304/405/1106) is connected with the output end of the adder (302/402/1103’’’)”. This is unclear based on applicant’s Figs, 3. 4 and 11, disclose phase compensation circuit (304/405/1106) is connected to the output of the amplifier (303/404/1105) and NOT the adder (302/402/1103’’’) as claimed. It is further noted that the 3rd limitation of claim 1 appears to say that phase compensation occurred after amplification. Clarification is needed. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 7-14 and 16-19 are allowed. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Regarding claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 7-14 and 16-19, among other subject matters claimed, prior art(s) does not disclose compensating a phase of amplified signal to output a second signal. Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Khanh V. Nguyen whose telephone number is (571) 272-1767. The examiner can normally be reached from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM EST. Examiner interviews are available via telephone 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, JESSICA HAN can be reached on (571) 272-2078. The fax phone numbers for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application lnformation Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /KHANH V NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2843
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 01, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jun 27, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 09, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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2y 11m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
94%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+2.0%)
1y 12m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1202 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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