Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/518,965

SPECTRUM ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND SPECTRUM ANALYSIS METHOD

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 25, 2023
Examiner
NIMOX, RAYMOND LONDALE
Art Unit
2857
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Shimadzu Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
82%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allow Rate
323 granted / 461 resolved
+2.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
51 currently pending
Career history
512
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
36.5%
-3.5% vs TC avg
§103
28.1%
-11.9% vs TC avg
§102
21.4%
-18.6% vs TC avg
§112
11.0%
-29.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 461 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by FUKUSHIMA ET AL. (JP 5385865 B2) (hereinafter “FUKUSHIMA”) (Citations refer to the attached translation). With respect to Claim(s) 1, FUKUSHIMA teaches a measurement support system that presents necessary information for a measurement curve displayed in real time and visually supports the operation of an analyzer and the BRI of: A spectrum analysis system (See, e.g., ¶ 0010) comprising: a measurer configured to measure an inspection target (See, e.g., ¶ 0010); a display configured to display (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a measurement spectrum waveform based on a measurement result measured by the measurer (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7); and a controller configured to control a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a plurality of first anomaly items that indicate a type(s) of anomaly/anomalies in appearance of the measurement spectrum waveform, and are selectable on the display (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7), wherein the controller is configured to control a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a first reference spectrum waveform for reference to a mode(s) of appearance of an anomaly/anomalies corresponding to one of the plurality of the first anomaly items on the display for each of the plurality of first anomaly items (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7). With respect to Claim(s) 12, FUKUSHIMA teaches a measurement support system that presents necessary information for a measurement curve displayed in real time and visually supports the operation of an analyzer and the BRI of: A spectrum analysis method (See, e.g., ¶ 0010) comprising: a step of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a measurement spectrum waveform based on a measurement result acquired by measuring an inspection target on a display (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7); a step of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a plurality of first anomaly items that indicate a type(s) of anomaly/anomalies in appearance of the measurement spectrum waveform with being selectable on the display (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7); and a step of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a first reference spectrum waveform for reference to a mode(s) of appearance of an anomaly/anomalies corresponding to one of the first anomaly items on the display for each of the plurality of first anomaly items (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7). With respect to Claim(s) 2, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: further comprising an operation acceptor configured to accept a selecting operation to select one first anomaly item from the plurality of first anomaly items displayed on the display (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7), wherein the controller is configured to a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) the first reference spectrum waveform corresponding to the selected first anomaly item on the display in response to the selecting operation accepted by the operation acceptor (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7). With respect to Claim(s) 3, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: wherein the controller is configured to control a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a plurality of second anomaly items for identifying a type of the anomaly that are selectable on the display and correspond to the one first anomaly item selected from the plurality of first anomaly items (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7), and a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a second reference spectrum waveform for reference to a mode(s) of appearance of an anomaly/anomalies corresponding to one of the second anomaly items on the display for each of the second anomaly items (See, e.g., ¶ 0027-0029, 0034, 0044; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7). With respect to Claim(s) 4, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: wherein the controller is configured to control a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) the first reference spectrum waveform on the display with an attention area(s) corresponding to a type of the anomaly in the measurement spectrum waveform being recognizably displayed for each of the plurality of first anomaly items (See, e.g., ¶ 0035; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7). With respect to Claim(s) 5, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: wherein the controller is configured to control a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) the measurement spectrum waveform based on the measurement result with the attention area being recognizably displayed as the first reference spectrum waveform on the display (See, e.g., ¶ 0035; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1, 4-7). With respect to Claim(s) 6, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: further comprising a storage configured to store (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) a plurality of first reference spectrum waveforms which are predetermined sample waveforms corresponding to the types of anomalies of the plurality of first anomaly items (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1), wherein the controller is configured to control a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) one of the first reference spectral waveforms, which are stored in the storage, on the display separately from the measurement spectrum waveform for each of the plurality of first anomaly items (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1). With respect to Claim(s) 7, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: wherein the controller is configured to control a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) solution information indicating a solution(s) for the anomaly/anomalies corresponding to the one of the plurality of first anomaly items together with the first reference spectrum waveform corresponding to the one of the first anomaly items on the display (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1). With respect to Claim(s) 8, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: wherein the controller is configured to (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) change a type(s) of the plurality of first anomaly items displayed on the display in accordance with a predetermined analysis condition(s) (See, e.g., ¶ 0026; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1). With respect to Claim(s) 9, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: wherein the controller is configured to control a function of separately displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) the first anomaly items that indicate a type(s) of the anomaly/anomalies relating to a peak part(s) in appearance of the measurement spectrum waveform, and the first anomaly item that indicate a type(s) of the anomaly/anomalies relating to a baseline part(s) in appearance of the measurement spectrum waveform with being selectable on the display (See, e.g., ¶ 0037, 0038; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1); and a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) the first reference spectral waveform corresponding to the one of the first anomaly items relating to the peak and baseline parts on the display for each of the plurality of first anomaly items (See, e.g., ¶ 0037, 0038; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1). With respect to Claim(s) 10, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: wherein the controller is configured to control a function of separately displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0010; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) the first anomaly item(s) that indicates/indicate a type(s) of an anomaly/anomalies including at least one of saturation of a peak part(s), detection failure of a peak part(s), shape distortion of a peak part(s) and peak part inversion (See, e.g., Fig(s). 7), and the first anomaly item(s) that indicates/indicate a type(s) of an anomaly/anomalies including at least one of noise in a baseline part(s), interference fringes in a baseline part(s), anomalous baseline part position and anomalous baseline part shape with being selectable on the display (See, e.g., Fig(s). 7). With respect to Claim(s) 11, FUKUSHIMA teaches the BRI of the parent claim(s). FUKUSHIMA further teaches the BRI of: wherein the measurer is configured to measure the inspection target by detecting infrared light with which the inspection target is irradiated (See, e.g., ¶ 0010); and the controller is configured to control a function of displaying (See, e.g., ¶ 0002; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1) one of the first reference spectral waveforms for each of the plurality of first anomaly items which indicate types of anomalies in appearance of the measurement spectrum waveform based on the detection of the infrared light (See, e.g., ¶ 0002; See also, e.g., Fig(s). 1). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. RITTER ET AL. (US 20230251292 A1) teaches a data analysis system includes a data input interface for receiving a time domain signal, a data segmentation processor that segments the time domain signal into single segments of a predetermined length, a data converter that converts the time domain signal into a spectrum waveform in the frequency domain based on the single segments, a data analyzer that detects a data anomaly in the spectrum waveform, a segment identifier that, if the data anomaly is detected in the spectrum waveform, identifies the segment that causes the data anomaly in the spectrum waveform, and a data output interface that, if the data anomaly is detected in the spectrum waveform, outputs at least one of an indication of the identified segment and the identified segment. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RAYMOND NIMOX whose telephone number is (469)295-9226. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thu 10am-8pm CT. 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, ANDREW SCHECHTER can be reached at (571) 272-2302. 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. RAYMOND NIMOX Primary Examiner Art Unit 2857 /RAYMOND L NIMOX/Primary Examiner, Art Unit
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 25, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (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
70%
Grant Probability
82%
With Interview (+11.4%)
3y 0m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 461 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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