Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/488,657

OBJECT POSE DETERMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Oct 17, 2023
Examiner
MEHMOOD, JENNIFER
Art Unit
2664
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
TuSimple, Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
65%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 65% of resolved cases
65%
Career Allow Rate
160 granted / 247 resolved
+2.8% vs TC avg
Strong +31% interview lift
Without
With
+30.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
268
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.8%
-37.2% vs TC avg
§103
45.0%
+5.0% vs TC avg
§102
31.9%
-8.1% vs TC avg
§112
17.6%
-22.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 247 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 Rejections - 35 USC § 112 Claims 1-20 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 are confusing for at least the reason that a single hypothesis projection is recited and appears to be based from a plurality of projections. It is unclear how one would get one a single hypothesis projection from a plurality of pose hypotheses. Furthermore, it is unclear what results are being evaluated. It is also unclear what is being compared. Is the comparison which of the projections are within the bounding box ? It is unclear what criteria is used to determine the results which would determine the object pose ? Citation of Prior Art The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The limitations recited in the 112 rejection could not result in a reasonable rejection however, the CN110472571A reference (hereinafter 571 reference) teaches a method for determining the object pose (orientation of a second vehicle) comprising obtaining for a time frame, wherein the time frame is a time dimension such as morning, evening, noon or weather dimensions, see lines 17 of page 11 or the detection of images by higher frequency radar (millimeter wave), coherent infrared radar. The 571 reference teaches sensor data taken from either from image capture device acquisitions, or by tallstock camera ( see page 16, lines 5-6) or by the radar sensor as disclosed at lines 13-14 of page 16. The 571 reference teaches generation of a bounding box for a vehicle, see page 7, lines 4, 23, and line 45. The bounding box is a 2D as it is used in the length and height dimensions. The 571 reference teaches generating pose model (vehicle generation model) based on the sensor data, set forth above, and the time frame information, also as recited above The 571 reference teaches a training sample Model, see page 7 line 6, as the model reconstruction algorithm consisting of pose parameters, using image features which include vehicle heading letters and breath set, see the second full para. of page 7. The 571 reference teaches generation of a plurality of pose hypothesis, which is a plurality of perspectives of the object. As set forth at page 8, second full paragraph, the aggregate of the intercept from first and second images wherein the first and second images represents different perspectives. The 571 reference teaches a plurality of sampling techniques using fusion. The Examiner contends that this portion is set forth at page 23, last paragraph which states that being up-sampled to the first characteristic of image, and the second graph with the output of penultimate convolution layer, the feature is merged (fusion). Further, the reference states that by being up-sampled to the second characteristics of image, and rolled with the third last, a third graphic feature is merged (fusion). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEROME GRANT II whose telephone number is (571)272-7463. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.. 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, Nay Maung can be reached at 571-272-7882. 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. /JEROME GRANT II/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2664
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 17, 2023
Application Filed
Nov 15, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
65%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+30.6%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 247 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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