Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/568,640

SPATIALLY SELECTIVE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ASSISTED PROCESSING OF BULK CRYSTALLINE SOFT MAGNETIC ALLOYS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 08, 2023
Examiner
LIANG, ANTHONY M
Art Unit
1734
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
548 granted / 659 resolved
+18.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
37 currently pending
Career history
696
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
44.0%
+4.0% vs TC avg
§102
7.6%
-32.4% vs TC avg
§112
33.9%
-6.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 659 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. 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 15 and 19-21 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. Claim 15 recites the limitation "the electromagnetic radiation" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 19 recites the limitation "the coil member" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 19 recites the limitation "the outer diameter " in line 4 . There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 20 recites the limitation "the transverse coil " in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 21 recites the limitation "the coil member" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 21 recites the limitation "the inner diameter " in line 4 . There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Cl aims 1-4,7,9-11,13-14,25-28 and 31-32 are a llowed. Claims 15 and 19-21 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding claim 1, the prior art fails to disclose or fairly suggest the thermal processing method as recited. In particular, the closest prior art, Plotkowski et al. (US 2020/0263281), hereinafter “ Plotkowski ,” teaches a thermal processing method, the method comprising hot isostatic pressing treatment to consolidate residual porosity and to allow grain growth to occur, wherein the method further comprises providing a soft magnetic alloy for use in additive manufacturing and structures fabricated from such alloys (Abstract, [0139]). However, Plotkowski does not teach or adequately suggest applying a spatially selective thermal annealing to the soft magnetic alloy component by applying an electromagnetic field to the component, wherein the electromagnetic field generates heat internally within the component in a spatially varying manner to cause magnetic properties and mechanical properties of the soft magnetic alloy to vary spatially within the component, as required by claim 1. Thus, claim 1 is distinct over the teachings of the prior art. Claims 2-4, 7, 9-11, 13-15, 19-21, 25-28, and 31-32 further limit the subject matter of claim 1 and are thus also distinct over the teachings of the prior art. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT ANTHONY M LIANG whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-0483 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F: 9:00am-5:00pm . 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 Jonathan Johnson can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-1177 . 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. /ANTHONY M LIANG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1734
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 08, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 16, 2026
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
83%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+9.9%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 659 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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