Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/540,923

COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Final Rejection §103§112
Filed
Dec 15, 2023
Examiner
LIU, KENDRICK X
Art Unit
2853
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Ricoh Company Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allow Rate
690 granted / 885 resolved
+10.0% vs TC avg
Strong +15% interview lift
Without
With
+15.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
917
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
53.2%
+13.2% vs TC avg
§102
25.7%
-14.3% vs TC avg
§112
16.0%
-24.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 885 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-16 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Response to Amendment Applicant’s Amendment filed on 12/09/2025 regarding claims 1-16 is fully considered. Of the above claims, claims 1-4, 6-7 and 9 have been amended, and claims 12-16 have been newly added. 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 limitation of one synchronization detection plate to detect light emitted from the first light-emitting element and light emitted from the second light-emitting element 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. Claim Objections Claims 1-2 and 12 are objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding claim 1, the recitations of “the light-emitting element” in line 11, “the reflector” in line 13 and “the one synchronization detection element” in line 28 lack antecedent basis. Regarding claim 2, the recitation of “the color image forming apparatus” in line 1 lacks antecedent basis. Regarding claim 12, the recitation of “a plurality of fq lens” in lines 1-2 contains a grammatical error. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Regarding claim 1, the recitation of “a plurality of light-emitting elements to irradiate the photoconductor with light” in line 8 is not supported by the original disclosure. The specification discloses that each of photoconductors 16K, 16M, 16C 16K is irradiated by one laser diode 28 (for example, [0040]-[0041]; FIG. 5). Further regarding claim 1, the limitation of one synchronization detection plate to detect light emitted from the first light-emitting element and light emitted from the second light-emitting element in lines 17-21 is mentioned in paragraph [0139] in which is disclosed “the optical writing device emits light from the plurality of light-emitting elements to the synchronization detection element that is a single synchronization detection element. Other aspects in the specification disclose that each of the synchronization detection plate 41 detects light irradiated by one laser diode 28 (for example, [0082]-[0083]; FIG. 5). Claims 2-16 are rejected due to their dependency on claim 1. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 1, 4 and 12-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maeda (US 2003/0030718 A1) in view of Seki (US 2015/0042739 A1). Regarding claim 1, Maeda teaches an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus to develop an electrostatic latent image with a developer to form an image (the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 29 is then subjected to the sequential electrophotographic processes performed by the above-mentioned charging unit 30, the development unit 31, and the transfer unit 32 so that a color image made of four individual color images according to the color separated imaged information data is formed on a recording sheet P; [0053]; image forming apparatus 300 that has a common polygon mirror and four color-independent drums; [0101]; Figs 18-19), the apparatus comprising: a photoconductor to bear the electrostatic latent image to be developed with the developer (photosensitive members 29Y, 29M, 29C, 29BK; FIG. 18); and an optical writing device to expose the photoconductor (optical unit 320; Figs 18-19), the optical writing device including: a laser light source to irradiate the photoconductor with light (LD units 10Y, 10M, 10C 10BK; FIG. 19); a light emission control element to control light emission of the laser light source (the image signal loaded with the output timing that the line gate signal/LGATE is low drives the LD driver 11 to turn on and off the LD unit 10; [0088]; the light amount P, which is to be emitted from the laser diode to write an image, is determined in the LD driver 11; [0093]; FIG. 17); a deflector element that is a multifaceted reflector disposed on an emission light path of the light from the laser light source (polygon mirror 22; Figs 18-19), the reflector to be rotated by a signal inputted from an external device and deflect the light with which a surface of the reflector is irradiated to scan the photoconductor with the light in one direction (the polygon motor driver 18 controls the polygon motor 22a to rotate at a predetermined number of revolutions; [0064]; FIG. 17; the polygon motor driver 18 being external to the optical unit 20); a plurality of mirrors, the plurality of mirrors including a first mirror and a second mirror (cylinder mirror 8MY and cylinder mirror 8BKC; FIG. 19); a synchronization detection arrangement (sensor 7MY and sensor 7BKC; FIG. 19) to detect: light emitted from the first light-emitting element and reflected by the deflector element and the first mirror (sensor 7MY; FIG. 19), light emitted from the second light-emitting element and reflected by the second mirror (sensor 7BKC; FIG. 19), and a write start timing of the electrostatic latent image with the light with which the photoconductor is irradiated (the optical unit 20 further includes a sensor 7 for detecting a light beam L1 at a position next to a start position of the image recording area in the main scanning direction D1 on the photosensitive member 29; [0060]; the above-mentioned sensors 7MY and 7BKC are the sensor for detecting the sync detect signals of the beams Y, M, C, and BK; [0109]; FIG. 19); a memory that stores an execution condition for correcting a color shift between a plurality of colors and a color shift correction value for correcting the color shift (the controller 19 sends a signal to other components to govern the operations of the other components of the image recording controlling circuit 2 and includes an electronic circuit, which can be for example a memory 19a, for storing the predetermined correction data table; [0061]; circuit 219a; FIG. 17), the memory that stores a first light amount of the light-emitting element when the color shift is corrected (the image recording controlling circuit 2 is provided with a data table that stores a plurality of predetermined light amount values of the light source, determined in response to various conditions for the image forming, and a plurality of time shift amounts for an image recording position in response to the predetermined light amount values; [0057], [0100]); and processing circuitry configured to correct the color shift by adjusting the write start timing from when the synchronization detection element detects light to when light emission control by the light emission control element according to image data is started (the present inventor has recognized that the delay in time of the signal produced by the optical sensor can be adjusted if the image recording controlling circuit 2 adjusts the signal /DETP produced by the optical sensor in a write start position correction unit 15 to produce a corrected signal /DDETP, so that the start position of the recording image on the photosensitive member is the same under various image forming conditions; [0059], [0061], [0065]-[0068]; [0073]; FIG. 17), and to correct a detection shift generated when a light amount of light incident on the synchronization detection element fluctuates (Figs 5-8), the processing circuitry configured to calculate a detection shift correction value of the detection shift of the synchronization detection element, using the first light amount and a second light amount determined as a lighting condition of the light-emitting element, and add the detection shift correction value to the color shift correction value (when the light amount is increased relative to the reference light amount P0, the timing of the sync detect signal /DETP is moved up and the start position of the image writing is shifted towards the default start position of the image writing; on the contrary, when the light amount is decreased relative to the reference light amount P0, the timing of the sync detect signal /DETP is delayed and the start position of the image writing is shifted towards the end position of the image writing; [0068]; Figs 5-8; this procedure is performed for at least one color or for every color in a similar manner; [0069]; the shifts in the colors are considered as color shifts). Further regarding claim 1, Maeda does not teach the laser light source includes a plurality of light-emitting elements; and the one synchronization detection arrangement includes a synchronization detection plate. Further regarding claim 1, Seki teaches a laser light source includes a plurality of light-emitting elements (the light source 201 includes N light emitting elements that each emit a laser beam; [0056]; FIG. 3A) for the purpose of realizing a higher image formation speed and higher resolution images; and one synchronization detection arrangement includes a synchronization detection plate (the light-receiving surface 207a of the BD sensor 207 is a plate with an opening to receive laser beams; [0063]; FIG. 3C) for the purpose of simultaneously synchronizing plural light emitting elements. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate the laser light source includes a plurality of light-emitting elements; and the one synchronization detection arrangement includes a synchronization detection plate, as taught by Seki, into Maeda for the purposes of realizing a higher image formation speed and higher resolution images and simultaneously synchronizing plural light emitting elements. Regarding claim 4, Maeda teaches wherein the memory stores a correction table that associates a light amount of light emitted from the first light-emitting element with a change amount of the write start timing, and the processing circuitry calculates the detection shift correction value, using a change amount of the write start timing associated with the second light amount in the correction table (the image recording controlling circuit 2 is provided with a data table that stores a plurality of predetermined light amount values of the light source, determined in response to various conditions for the image forming, and a plurality of time shift amounts for an image recording position in response to the predetermined light amount values; [0057], [0070]-[0073]; [0100]). Regarding claim 12, Maeda teaches a plurality of fq lens (fq lens 23MY and fq lens 23BKC; FIG. 19), wherein both of the light that is emitted from the first light-emitting element and reflected by the deflector element and the first mirror and the light that is emitted from the second light-emitting element and reflected by the deflector element and the second mirror do not pass through the plurality of fq lenses (lights reflected by cylinder mirror 8MY and cylinder mirror 8BKC do not pass through fq lens 23MY and fq lens 23BKC before reaching sensor 7MY and sensor 7BKC; FIG. 19). Regarding claim 13, Maeda teaches a plurality of lenses, the plurality of lenses includes a first lens and a second lens (lens 7b of each of the optical units 20; Figs 2-4), wherein the light reflected by the first mirror passes through the first lens corresponding to the first mirror (light reflected by the mirror 7a of each of the optical units 20 passes through the lens 7b; Figs 2-4), and wherein the light reflected by the second mirror passes through the second lens corresponding to the second mirror (light reflected by the mirror 7a of each of the optical units 20 passes through the lens 7b; Figs 2-4). One of ordinary skill would have combined the different embodiment of Maeda for the purpose of focusing light after light is reflected by a simple flat mirror. Regarding claim 14, Maeda teaches a plurality of lenses, the plurality of lenses includes a first lens and a second lens (lens 7b of each of the optical units 20; Figs 2-4), wherein the light reflected by the first mirror passes through the first lens corresponding to the first mirror (light reflected by the mirror 7a of each of the optical units 20 passes through the lens 7b; Figs 2-4), and wherein the light reflected by the second mirror passes through the second lens corresponding to the second mirror (light reflected by the mirror 7a of each of the optical units 20 passes through the lens 7b; Figs 2-4). One of ordinary skill would have combined the different embodiment of Maeda for the purpose of focusing light after light is reflected by a simple flat mirror. Regarding claim 15, Maeda teaches wherein the first mirror is disposed on an opposite side to the first light-emitting element with respect to the deflector element (cylinder mirror 8MY is disposed on an opposite side to the LD units 10M and 10Y with respect to the polygon mirror 22; FIG. 19), and the second mirror is disposed on a same side as the second light-emitting element with respect to the deflector element (cylinder mirror 8BKC is disposed on a same side to the LD units 10BK and 10C with respect to the polygon mirror 22; FIG. 19). Regarding claim 16, Maeda teaches wherein the first mirror is disposed on an opposite side to the first light-emitting element with respect to the deflector element (cylinder mirror 8MY is disposed on an opposite side to the LD units 10M and 10Y with respect to the polygon mirror 22; FIG. 19), and the second mirror is disposed on a same side as the second light-emitting element with respect to the deflector element (cylinder mirror 8BKC is disposed on a same side to the LD units 10BK and 10C with respect to the polygon mirror 22; FIG. 19). Claim(s) 2-3 and 5-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maeda (US 2003/0030718 A1) as modified by Seki (US 2015/0042739 A1) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Furuta (US 2015/0002598 A1). Regarding claim 2, Maeda as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the light emission control element controls a light amount of the first light-emitting element to be constant while light reflected from one end to the other end of one surface of the deflection element scans the photoconductor in one direction. Further regarding claim 2, Furuta teaches a light emission control element controls a light amount of a first light-emitting element to be constant while light reflected from one end to the other end of one surface of a deflection element scans a photoconductor in one direction (the optical scanning apparatuses 104Y, 104M, 104C, and 104Bk can adjust the density characteristic of the image to be formed, by adjusting the light power of the light beams emitted from the light source such that the densities of the toner images of respective colors detected by the density detection sensor 120 become a predetermined value; [0044]; Figs 1-2, 5; for a constant density over a scan line in one direction, the light power would be constant from one end to the other end of a surface of a polygon mirror 204) for the purpose of writing a latent image line having a constant density. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the light emission control element controls a light amount of the first light-emitting element to be constant while light reflected from one end to the other end of one surface of the deflection element scans the photoconductor in one direction, as taught by Furuta, into Maeda as modified by Seki for the purpose of writing a latent image line having a constant density. Regarding claim 3, Maeda as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the optical writing device emits light from the plurality of light-emitting elements to the one synchronization detection element. Further regarding claim 3, Furuta teaches an optical writing device emits light from the plurality of light-emitting elements to a synchronization detection element (the light source 201 includes N light emitting elements that each emit a laser beam; [0051]; Figs 3A-3C) for the purpose of printing at high resolution and at high speed. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the optical writing device emits light from the plurality of light-emitting elements to the one synchronization detection element, as taught by Furuta, into Maeda as modified by Seki for the purpose of printing at high resolution and at high speed. Regarding claim 5, Maeda as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the processing circuitry calculates the detection shift correction value, using a detection shift correction curve of a polynomial for determining a change amount of the write start timing, and the memory stores a coefficient of the polynomial. Further regarding claim 5, Furuta teaches a processing circuitry calculates a detection shift correction value, using a detection shift correction curve of a polynomial for determining a change amount of a write start timing, and a memory stores a coefficient of the polynomial (the coefficient K is a coefficient for performing weighting on the amount of change from the reference value for the detection time interval of laser beams by the BD sensor 207, and the coefficient K can be determined according to the characteristics of the optical system; [0096]-[0101]; the coefficient K may be stored in memory 406; FIG. 4) for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the processing circuitry calculates the detection shift correction value, using a detection shift correction curve of a polynomial for determining a change amount of the write start timing, and the memory stores a coefficient of the polynomial, as taught by Furuta, into Maeda as modified by Seki for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. Regarding claim 6, Maeda as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the one synchronization detection element has a slit to limit an incident light path of light from the first light-emitting element. Further regarding claim 6, Furuta teaches a synchronization detection element has a slit to limit an incident light path of light from a first light-emitting element (light-receiving surface 207a has D3xD4 opening; FIG. 3C) for the purpose of allowing only one light-emitting element of a plurality of light-emitting elements to be detected at any one time. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the synchronization detection element has a slit to limit an incident light path of light from the light-emitting element, as taught by Furuta, into Maeda as modified by Seki for the purpose of allowing only one light-emitting element of a plurality of light-emitting elements to be detected at any one time. Regarding claim 7, Maeda as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the processing circuitry calculates the detection shift correction value, using the polynomial that is different for each of the plurality of light-emitting elements that irradiate the synchronization detection element with light. Further regarding claim 7, Furuta teaches the processing circuitry calculates the detection shift correction value, using the polynomial that is different for each of light-emitting elements that irradiate the synchronization detection element with light (equations 1-4; [0089]-[0098]) for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the processing circuitry calculates the detection shift correction value, using the polynomial that is different for each of light-emitting elements that irradiate the synchronization detection element with light, as taught by Furuta, into Maeda as modified by Seki for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. Regarding claim 8, Maeda as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the processing circuitry calculates, as the detection shift correction value, a value obtained by subtracting a first detection shift correction amount determined according to the first light amount from a second detection shift correction amount determined according to the second light amount. Further regarding claim 8, Furuta teaches a processing circuitry calculates, as a detection shift correction value, a value obtained by subtracting a first detection shift correction amount determined according to a first light amount from a second detection shift correction amount determined according to a second light amount (equations 1-4; [0089]-[0098]; FIG. 9) for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the processing circuitry calculates, as the detection shift correction value, a value obtained by subtracting a first detection shift correction amount determined according to the first light amount from a second detection shift correction amount determined according to the second light amount, as taught by Furuta, into Maeda as modified by Seki for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. Regarding claim 9, Maeda as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the memory stores a correction table that associates a ratio obtained by dividing a light amount emitted from the first light-emitting element by a reference light amount with a change amount of the write start timing, and the processing circuitry calculates the detection shift correction value, based on a change amount of the write start timing associated with a ratio obtained by dividing the second light amount by the reference light amount in the correction table. Further regarding claim 9, Furuta teaches a memory stores a correction table that associates a ratio obtained by dividing a light amount emitted from a light-emitting element by a reference light amount with a change amount of the write start timing, and a processing circuitry calculates a detection shift correction value, based on a change amount of the write start timing associated with a ratio obtained by dividing a second light amount by the reference light amount in the correction table (target light power value in % is associated with a ratio of the power values, 100% being the reference light amount; FIG. 9; equations 1-4 calculates change amount; [0089]-[0098]) for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the memory stores a correction table that associates a ratio obtained by dividing a light amount emitted from the first light-emitting element by a reference light amount with a change amount of the write start timing, and the processing circuitry calculates the detection shift correction value, based on a change amount of the write start timing associated with a ratio obtained by dividing the second light amount by the reference light amount in the correction table, as taught by Furuta, into Maeda as modified by Seki for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. Regarding claim 10, Maeda as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the memory stores the reference light amount, and the processing circuitry reads the reference light amount from the memory in a case of calculating the detection shift correction value, and calculates the detection shift correction value by subtracting a change amount of the write start timing associated with a ratio obtained by dividing the first light amount by the reference light amount from the change amount associated with the ratio obtained by dividing the second light amount by the reference light amount. Further regarding claim 10, Furuta teaches the memory stores the reference light amount, and the processing circuitry reads the reference light amount from the memory in a case of calculating the detection shift correction value, and calculates the detection shift correction value by subtracting a change amount of the write start timing associated with a ratio obtained by dividing the first light amount by the reference light amount from the change amount associated with the ratio obtained by dividing the second light amount by the reference light amount (target light power value in % is associated with a ratio of the power values, 100% being the reference light amount; FIG. 9; equations 1-4 calculates by subtracting a change amount; [0089]-[0098]) for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the memory stores the reference light amount, and the processing circuitry reads the reference light amount from the memory in a case of calculating the detection shift correction value, and calculates the detection shift correction value by subtracting a change amount of the write start timing associated with a ratio obtained by dividing the first light amount by the reference light amount from the change amount associated with the ratio obtained by dividing the second light amount by the reference light amount, as taught by Furuta, into Maeda as modified by Seki for the purpose of correcting the timing of a plurality of light emitting elements in a light emitting unit for a color. Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maeda (US 2003/0030718 A1) as modified by Seki (US 2015/0042739 A1) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Maeda (US 2004/0095454 A1). Regarding claim 11, Maeda ‘718 as modified by Seki does not teach wherein the processing circuitry skips updating the first light amount stored in the memory when color matching fails. Further regarding claim 11, Maeda ‘454 teaches a processing circuitry skips updating a first light amount stored in the memory when color matching fails (when the pattern is not detectible in step S1603, compensation data is not updated in memory 700; FIG. 35; [0234]) for the purpose of updating compensation data only when the color patterns are aligned. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to incorporate wherein the processing circuitry skips updating the first light amount stored in the memory when color matching fails, as taught by Maeda ‘454, into Maeda ‘718 as modified by Seki for the purpose of updating compensation data only when the color patterns are aligned. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KENDRICK X LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-3798. The examiner can normally be reached MWFSa 10am-8pm. 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, Douglas X Rodriguez can be reached at (571) 431-0716. 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. 13 February 2026 /KENDRICK X LIU/Examiner, Art Unit 2853 /DOUGLAS X RODRIGUEZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2853
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 15, 2023
Application Filed
Sep 27, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §112
Dec 09, 2025
Response Filed
Feb 19, 2026
Final Rejection — §103, §112
Mar 10, 2026
Interview Requested
Mar 18, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Mar 18, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

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

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+15.4%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
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