Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/559,865

WELDING DEVICE AND WELDING METHOD

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Nov 09, 2023
Priority
May 10, 2021 — EU 21173138.5 +1 more
Examiner
LIU, CHRIS Q
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Fronius International GmbH
OA Round
2 (Final)
69%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 69% — above average
69%
Career Allowance Rate
279 granted / 402 resolved
+9.4% vs TC avg
Strong +37% interview lift
Without
With
+37.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
423
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
38.5%
-1.5% vs TC avg
§102
25.1%
-14.9% vs TC avg
§112
34.0%
-6.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 402 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 . Response to Amendment With respect to the claim objection and claim rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(b), applicant amended claims 1-15, which overcome the claim objection and claim rejection. Therefore, the claim objection and claim rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) are withdrawn. However, new claim objection and new claim rejection are raised due to the claim amendment. Claim Objections Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: The term “one of: the one voltage measuring socket and one of the first connection socket and the second connection socket, or between the first voltage measuring socket and the second voltage measuring socket” in claim 1 should read “one of: the one voltage measuring socket and one of the first connection socket and the second connection socket, or the first voltage measuring socket and the second voltage measuring socket”. 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 1-10 and 16-20 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. Regarding claim 1, the limitation “one of: one voltage measuring socket configured for connecting to a measuring line, or a first voltage measuring socket and a second voltage measuring socket, each of which is configured for connecting a respective measuring line; a second voltage-measuring device for detecting a second electrical welding voltage signal between one of: the one voltage measuring socket and one of the first connection socket and the second connection socket, or between the first voltage measuring socket and the second voltage measuring socket” is indefinite. The locations of “one voltage measuring socket” and “measuring line” is unclear. It is unclear what is connecting the measuring line via the voltage measuring socket. It is unclear how to measure the second electrical welding voltage signal, since none of the voltage measuring socket and measuring line connect to any power source. Regarding claims 2-10 and 16-20, the claims are rejected due to their dependency on a rejected claim as shown above. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 CHRIS Q LIU whose telephone number is (571)272-8241. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9:00-6:00. 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, Ibrahime Abraham can be reached at (571) 270-5569. 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. /CHRIS Q LIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 09, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Sep 01, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 22, 2026
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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
69%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+37.1%)
3y 3m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 402 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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