Last updated: July 05, 2026

Application No. 18/628,393

HETEROGEOUS NEGATIVE ION SOURCE BASED UPON HYDROGEN PLASMA

Non-Final OA

Filed

Apr 05, 2024

Examiner

MASKELL, MICHAEL P

Art Unit

2878

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

Applied Materials Inc.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +9.2% interview lift. Interview already conducted in this application's prosecution history. This examiner has a 86% grant rate with +9.2% interview lift. Since an interview has already been tried, recommend written response with narrowed claims based on precedent claim evolution patterns.

Based on 1079 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

MASKELL, MICHAEL P View full profile →

Grants 86% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

930 granted / 1079 resolved

+18.2% vs TC avg

Moderate +9% lift

Without

With

+9.2%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Fast prosecutor

2y 2m

Avg Prosecution

17 currently pending

Career history

1087

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

2.5%

-37.5% vs TC avg

§103

66.0%

+26.0% vs TC avg

§102

25.3%

-14.7% vs TC avg

§112

2.6%

-37.4% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1079 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 05, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 08, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed

Jun 25, 2026

Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

Jun 25, 2026

Examiner Interview Summary

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/534,455

Patent 12671053

METHOD OF COMPENSATING FOR AN EFFECT OF ELECTRODE DISTORTION, ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

2y 6m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

17/825,274

Patent 12658419

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MSN MASS SPECTROMETRY

4y 0m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

17/881,020

Patent 12651722

Blended energy ion implantation

3y 10m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026

18/448,704

Patent 12651733

HIGH-DYNAMIC RANGE SCANS (PARTITIONING METHOD)

2y 10m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026

18/257,611

Patent 12640357

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW THROUGH AN OPEN PORT INTERFACE

2y 11m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

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

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

86%

Grant Probability

95%

With Interview (+9.2%)

2y 2m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 1079 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.