Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 18, 2026
Application No. 18/486,047

PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE AND EQUIPMENT

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Oct 12, 2023
Priority
Oct 17, 2022 — JP 2022-166156 +1 more
Examiner
JEFFERSON, QUOVAUNDA
Art Unit
2899
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Canon Inc.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
713 granted / 900 resolved
+11.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
935
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
60.2%
+20.2% vs TC avg
§102
25.0%
-15.0% vs TC avg
§112
9.3%
-30.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 900 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 . 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 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. Claims 1 and 19 recite the limitation that “in the plan view relative to the main surface, an end portion of the second output line intersecting with respect to a longer-side direction of the second output line is positioned to overlap with at least a portion of the second region” (or the third region in claim 19) in the last lines of these claims. From how these claims have been recited, it is unclear as to what the end portion of the second output line intersects. The claim recites that the end portion of the second output line intersecting with respect to a longer side direction of the second output line, which infers that the end portion intersects itself, thereby making these claims indefinite. Claims 2-18 and 20-27 are dependent upon either claims 1 and 19 and are therefore allowable. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US Patent 7,875,839, issued to Sato et al, discloses a solid state imaging device that generates color pixel signals. US Patent 10,504,954, issued to Toyoguchi et al, discloses imaging body device. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to QUOVAUNDA JEFFERSON whose telephone number is (571)272-5051. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7AM-4PM. 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, Dale E Page can be reached at 571-270-7877. 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. QVJ /DALE E PAGE/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2899
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 12, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 29, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12707944
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SOI WAFER AND SOI WAFER
3y 5m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12701968
INSPECTION DEVICE, INSPECTION METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE
4y 6m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12693307
INERTIAL SENSOR, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING INERTIAL SENSOR, AND INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT
3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12696695
Atomic Layer Deposition of Passivation Layer
2y 12m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12690399
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FILLING A GAP
3y 9m to grant Granted Jul 21, 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
79%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+8.6%)
2y 9m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 900 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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