Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 12, 2026
Application No. 18/567,574

PUMP-DRIVEN TWO-PHASE LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM, AND LIQUID SUPPLEMENTATION CONTROL METHOD FOR PUMP-DRIVEN TWO-PHASE LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Dec 06, 2023
Priority
Jun 09, 2021 — CN 202110642644.0 +1 more
Examiner
RUPPERT, ERIC S
Art Unit
3763
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Institute Of Spacecraft System Engineering
OA Round
2 (Final)
60%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 60% of resolved cases
60%
Career Allowance Rate
462 granted / 771 resolved
-10.1% vs TC avg
Strong +24% interview lift
Without
With
+24.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
45 currently pending
Career history
813
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
50.8%
+10.8% vs TC avg
§102
17.5%
-22.5% vs TC avg
§112
29.3%
-10.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 771 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. Claim(s) 1 and 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Yu (CN106325322A). Regarding claim 1, Yu discloses a pump-driven two-phase liquid cooling system (Fig. 1-2 & translation thereof), comprising, a pump-driven two-phase liquid circulation loop (flow circuit), wherein a pump (circulation pump), an evaporator (evaporator), and a condenser (condenser) are sequentially arranged in the pump-driven two-phase liquid circulation loop; a first liquid storage tank (Tank A/B), which is arranged at a front end of the pump; and a second liquid storage tank (other of Tank A/B), which is in fluid communication with the first liquid storage tank through at least one first connecting pipeline (pipe D or pipe U); wherein the second liquid storage tank is provided with a first liquid filling port that is separated from the first liquid storage tank (see connection to pipe D or pipe U), and the at least one first connecting pipeline is provided with at least one first valve (valve D or valve U) configured to isolate the second liquid storage tank from the first liquid storage tank. Regarding claim 4, Yu discloses the limitations of claim 1, and Yu further discloses the at least one first connecting pipeline comprises an upper connecting pipeline and a lower connecting pipeline, an upper part (pipe U) of the first liquid storage tank (Tank A) is in fluid communication with an upper part of the second liquid storage (Tank B) tank through the upper connecting pipeline (pipe U), and a lower part of the first liquid storage tank is in fluid communication with a lower part of the second liquid storage tank through the lower connecting pipeline (pipe D), and each of the upper connecting pipeline and the lower connecting pipeline is provided with the first valve (valves U/D). Response to Arguments Examiner notes the previous 112 (b) rejections have been obviated by the present amendments. Applicant's arguments filed 6/2/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues Yu does not disclose the first filling port that is separated from the first liquid storage tank. Rather, Applicant contends the connection points referenced by Examiner are of the interconnecting pipelines, rather than separated filling ports. Applicant further contends that the claimed invention requires a distinct first liquid filling port. Examiner contends the ports of pipe D or U to tank B are necessarily “separated” (as they are physically separated therefrom) from tank A, and thus meet the plain meaning of the term. Examiner further contends that no “distinct” filling port is claimed, and thus the present interpretation of the claim is not precluded. In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., see purported benefits, remarks, page 3) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 2 are persuasive, and thus the rejection is withdrawn. For at least the reasons stated above, Applicant’s arguments are found unpersuasive and the rejection is maintained. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-3, 5-6 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Claims 7-10 are allowed. 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 ERIC S RUPPERT whose telephone number is (571)272-9911. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8 am - 4 pm. 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, Len Tran can be reached at 571-272-1184. 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. /ERIC S RUPPERT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 06, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jun 02, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 14, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12698942
METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HYDROCARBON FLOW SYSTEM FLUID COOLING
3y 8m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12691726
VEHICLE THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
1y 11m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12683466
COOLER, HOUSING, AND ROTATING ELECTRIC MACHINE
1y 11m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12674632
Refrigerant Heat Exchanger with Integral Multipass and Flow Distribution Technology
2y 8m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12666560
UPTURNED ELECTRIC CONTROL BOX MOUNTING STRUCTURE AND HEAT PUMP DEVICE APPLYING SAME
2y 8m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
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
60%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+24.3%)
2y 9m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 771 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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