Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/496,428

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE FOR MEASURING HYDROGEN AND METHOD FOR MEASURING A HYDROGEN CONCENTRATION IN A MEDIUM BY MEANS OF SUCH A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Oct 27, 2023
Examiner
GRAY, FRANCIS C
Art Unit
2852
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Infineon Technologies AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
91%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 1m
To Grant
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 91% — above average
91%
Career Allow Rate
915 granted / 1008 resolved
+22.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
1021
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.7%
-38.3% vs TC avg
§103
29.3%
-10.7% vs TC avg
§102
48.2%
+8.2% vs TC avg
§112
13.2%
-26.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1008 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 1-10 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. Wit regards to claim 1, it is not understood as to what is being claimed as to “a construction of the semiconductor device”, “affords at least one of the sensor layer”, “the sensor protection against further mechanical stresses” as the DETAILED DESCRIPTION fails to suggest or discloses as to how the “semiconductor device” is constructed, what the term “affords” at least on of the sensor layer as the term “affords is vague and undetermined, how the sensor protection against further mechanical stresses is determined and / or provided, thus rendering the claim as indefinite. With regards to claim 2, it is not understood as to what is being claimed as to “a deformable component which is configured to protect the at least one of the sensor layer” as the DETAILED DESCRIPTION fails to suggest or discloses as to how this function is to be performed, thus rendering the claim as indefinite. Claims 3 & 4 are depended therefrom claim 2. With regards to claim 5, it is not understood as to what is being claimed as to the “deformable component” and “an adhesive connection of the sensor chip to a wall of the cavity housing” as the DETAILED DESCRIPTION fails to suggest or discloses as to these limitations are referring to thus rendering the claim as indefinite. With regards to claim 6, it is not understood as to what is being claimed as to “mechanical stress of the sensor is dependent on one or more of a piezoresistive effect or a piezomagnetic effect” as the DETAILED DESCRIPTION fails to suggest or discloses as to these limitations are referring to thus rendering the claim as indefinite. With regards to claim 8 depends thereof claim 6. With regards to claim 7, it is not understood as to what is being claimed as to “mechanical stress of the sensor comprises a difference measurement” as the DETAILED DESCRIPTION fails to suggest or discloses as to these limitations are referring to thus rendering the claim as indefinite. With regards to claim 9, it is not understood as to what is being claimed as to “a construction of the semiconductor device”, “an exposed sensor layer”, “at least one of the sensor layer or the sensor against thermally induced further mechanical stresses” as the DETAILED DESCRIPTION fails to suggest or discloses as to these limitations are referring to thus rendering the claim as indefinite. With regards to claim 10, it is not understood as to what is being claimed as to “a construction of the semiconductor device”, “contacting the sensor layer with the medium”, “detecting the change in the mechanical stress of the sensor layer using the sensor” as the DETAILED DESCRIPTION fails to suggest or discloses as to these limitations are referring to thus rendering the claim as indefinite. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FRANCIS C GRAY whose telephone number is (571)270-3348. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7am-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, Stephanie Bloss can be reached at 571-272-3555. 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. /FRANCIS C GRAY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 27, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 29, 2026
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
91%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+7.5%)
2y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1008 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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