Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/505,041

PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY APPARATUS AND OPERATION METHOD OF THE SAME

Non-Final OA

Filed

Nov 08, 2023

Priority

May 08, 2023 — RE 10-2023-0059257

Examiner

PERSAUD, DEORAM

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +11.8% interview lift. Interview lift (+11.8%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 759 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

PERSAUD, DEORAM View full profile →

Grants 77% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

583 granted / 759 resolved

+16.8% vs TC avg

Moderate +12% lift

Without

With

+11.8%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 9m

Avg Prosecution

33 currently pending

Career history

798

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.2%

-38.8% vs TC avg

§103

63.8%

+23.8% vs TC avg

§102

28.0%

-12.0% vs TC avg

§112

0.7%

-39.3% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 759 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 08, 2023

Application Filed

Jun 02, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed

Jul 03, 2026

Interview Requested

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/039,613

Patent 12676447

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF OPTICAL COMPONENT ALIGNMENT

3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/851,601

Patent 12675052

SUBSTRATE WARPAGE DETERMINATION SYSTEM

1y 9m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/401,729

Patent 12663732

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF RETICLE IN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING

2y 5m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

17/767,420

Patent 12645156

PHASE MEASUREMENT DEVICE FOR LASER INTERFERENCE PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR USING SAME

2y 3m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026

18/037,957

Patent 12645069

HIGH ACCURACY TEMPERATURE-COMPENSATED PIEZORESISTIVE POSITION SENSING SYSTEM

3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

77%

Grant Probability

89%

With Interview (+11.8%)

2y 9m (~1m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 759 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.