Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/494,757

ADAPTIVE JUNCTION TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 25, 2023
Examiner
GLASS, ERICK DAVID
Art Unit
2846
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
634 granted / 709 resolved
+21.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
731
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
62.0%
+22.0% vs TC avg
§102
34.2%
-5.8% vs TC avg
§112
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 709 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 § 102 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 – (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. Claim(s) 1-5, 10 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being taught by Deflorio (PGPUB 2015/0340982). With respect to claim 1, Deflorio teaches a motor control system comprising: an inverter (fig. 1, 10) having a diode (paragraph 0041; DHA and SHA) and a transistor for generating an alternating current (fig. 1, IU,V,W ) in response to a pulse width modulated (abstract) direct current having a fixed amplitude (fig. 3, on amplitude); and a processor (fig. 1, 18) configured to adjust a zero vector (paragraph 0048-049) of the pulse width modulated direct current in response to a diode temperature and a transistor temperature such that the diode temperature equals the transistor temperature (paragraph 0052). With respect to claim 2, Deflorio teaches further including a memory for (paragraph 0053) storing a first component loss for the transistor and a second component loss for the diode. With respect to claim 3, Deflorio teaches wherein the alternating current is coupled to a stator winding of an electric motor (fig. 1, 14) to drive a rotor of the electric motor. With respect to claim 4, Deflorio teaches wherein the zero vector is adjusted in (paragraph 0048-049) response to a first component loss for the transistor, a second component loss for the diode and a portion of the pulse width modulated direct current coupled through the transistor and the diode. With respect to claim 5, Deflorio teaches wherein the diode temperature is determined by a first temperature sensor (TDHA ) and the transistor temperature is determined by a second temperature sensor (TSHA). With respect to claim 10, Deflorio teaches a method of generating an alternating current comprising: generating a pulse width modulated current (abstract) having a first zero vector; estimating a diode temperature and a transistor temperature in an inverter in response to the pulse width modulated current (paragraph 0052); adjusting the first zero vector (paragraph 0048-049) of the pulse width modulated current to generate an adapted pulse width modulated current such that the diode temperature equals the transistor temperature; generating, by the inverter, an alternating current (fig. 1; 10 output, IU,V,W to motor) in response to the adapted pulse width modulated current; and coupling the alternating current to an electric motor (fig. 1, 14). With respect to claim 19, Deflorio teaches a vehicle propulsion system comprising: a battery (fig. 1, 12) configured to supply a direct current; a generator (fig. 1, 14) for generating a pulse width modulated current (abstract) in response to the direct current and a zero vector (paragraph 0045); an inverter (fig. 1, 10) having a diode (paragraph 0041; DHA and SHA) and a transistor for converting the pulse width modulated current to an alternating current (fig. 1, IU,V,W); a processor (fig. 1, 18) for determining a diode temperature of the diode and a transistor temperature of the transistor and for adjusting the zero vector such that the diode temperature equals the transistor temperature; and an electric motor (paragraph 003) for propelling a vehicle in response to the alternating current (paragraph 0052). Claims 6-9, 11-18 and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERICK DAVID GLASS whose telephone number is (571)272-8395. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri_8-5pm. 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, Eduardo Colon-Santana can be reached at 571-272-2060. 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. /ERICK D GLASS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 25, 2023
Application Filed
Jul 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jul 13, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Jul 13, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12676564
Method and Control Device for Operating a Roadbound All-Wheel Vehicle
2y 12m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12668454
ELEVATOR DEVICE
3y 4m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12654985
AVOIDING ENTRAPMENT IN AN ELEVATOR
3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12654987
ELEVATOR SYSTEMS AND ROBOT OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH
3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12651983
MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE
2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 09, 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
89%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+7.0%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 709 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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