Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/546,634

DISTRIBUTED CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Aug 16, 2023
Examiner
LIENG, MALANE
Art Unit
2843
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
96%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 96% — above average
96%
Career Allow Rate
22 granted / 23 resolved
+27.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
43
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
39.3%
-0.7% vs TC avg
§102
39.3%
-0.7% vs TC avg
§112
19.7%
-20.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 23 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 Objections Clai m 22 is objected to because of the following informalities: In Claim 22 , line s 30-31 , “ [ Vdc_in - ( Idc_in – Icore _ in ) x R2_in ] ” should correctly be – ( Vdc_in - ( Idc_in – Icore _ in ) x R2_in ) --. In Claim 22 , lines 3 4 -3 5 , “ [ Vdc_ out - ( Idc_ out – I _ core _out ) x R2_ out ] ” should correctly be – ( Vdc_ out - ( Idc_ out – I _ core _out ) x R2_ out ) --. 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 appl icant regards as his invention. Claims 11, 18, and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph, as failing to set forth 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. Claims 11, 18, and 22 recites the limitations of: “ two input termination resistors connected in parallel to an end of the first transmission line ” and “ two output termination resistors connected in parallel to an end of the second transmission line ”. However, it is unclear how input termination resistors 13_1 and 13_2 and output termination resistors 14_1 and 14_2 are connected in parallel. Note: The Figures 1 and 3-5, in the drawings show that the resistors are in series. Clarification is needed. Furthermore, I t is known in electrical circuits that Voltage (V) is equals to Current (I) x Resistance (R), (V = I x R). However, C laim 18 lines 2-3 , and C laim 22 lines 2-3, defines ( Vdc _in + Idc _in x R in ) , Claim 18 lines 31 -32, and claim 22, lines 30-31, defines ( Vdc _in – Idc _in x R 2_in ) , C laim 18 lines 33-34, and claim 22, lines 32-33, defines ( Vdc_out + Idc_out x R1_out) , C laim 18 lines 35-36, defines ( Vdc_out – Idc_out x R2_out) , and Claim 22 , lines 37-38, defines ( Vdc_out – ( Idc_out-I_core_out ) x R2_out). Clarification is needed. Claims 12-17, 19-21, and 23-25 are rejected due to their dependency on the rejected independent claim s 1 1, 18, and 22 . Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT MALANE LIENG whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-5739 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Monday-Friday 6:30 - 4:00 CST . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Andrea Baltzell can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571) 272-5918 . 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. /MALANE LIENG/ Examiner, Art Unit 2843 /ANDREA LINDGREN BALTZELL/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2843
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Prosecution Timeline

Aug 16, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 18, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §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
96%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+6.3%)
3y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 23 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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