Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/498,066

MODULAR POWER METER ASSEMBLY

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Oct 31, 2023
Examiner
NGUYEN, THANG H
Art Unit
2831
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Accuenergy (Canada) Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
528 granted / 623 resolved
+16.8% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+16.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
638
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
76.5%
+36.5% vs TC avg
§102
13.4%
-26.6% vs TC avg
§112
7.6%
-32.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 623 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 . Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-6 in the reply filed on 03/05/2026 is acknowledged. Claim 7 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected claim, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 03/05/2026. Drawings The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “first housing; second housing; actuator (from a longitudinal displacement element equipped)” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: “1511”. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. Claim Objections Claim 6 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 6 line 5 recites: “situated on a second” should be --situated on a second lateral aspect-- 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. Claims 1-5 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. Claim 1 lines 2-5 recited the structure of “a power meter” element (110) according to the drawings. However, drawings did not show any features of “a power meter” such as “at least one engagement aperture; at least one access hole”. According to drawings these features are from “a power meter extension module (130)” not from the “a power meter (110)”. Further, from figured 15 of the drawing there are only few features which are located on “a power meter (110)” lateral aspect. Therefore, from the claim 1 limitations and mapping structures, it does not have any structures connection between the “a power meter (110) and one of the “a power meter extension module” as claimed. Would it be the structures in the independent claim 1 claimed the physical/mechanical connection between the two power meter extension modules instead, because the power meter (110) is lack of features on its lateral aspect in order to attach/insert/connect/engage with either one of the “a power meter extension module 120/130)”. Therefore, further clarification is required. Claims 2-5 are depending on claim 1, and also are rejected due to dependency. Claim 6 line 12-14 recites: “a dynamic locking mechanism also positioned on the second lateral aspect of the housing, which incorporates a transverse displacement element and a longitudinal displacement element, with each element furnished with its own actuator”. There is no drawing showing the dynamic mechanism positioned on the second lateral aspect of the housing, but instead it is located inside the body (970) and the body (970) is within the power meter extension module. Further, Applicant recites the ”actuator” from the transverse displacement element and the longitudinal displacement element. Applicant just simply recited the actuator but what are the functions of these actuators and what are these actuators have to do with the power meter extension as the preamble recited. Further, clarification is required. (Note: Applicant is reminded to revise the claim set in comprehensible manner according to drawings and specification thoroughly, to prevent incomprehensible). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THANG H NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-0288. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30am-6:30pm. 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, Abdullah Riyami can be reached at 571-270-3119. 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. /T.H.N/Examiner, Art Unit 2831 /ABDULLAH A RIYAMI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 31, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

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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
85%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+16.1%)
2y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 623 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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