Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 16, 2026
Application No. 18/640,437

DETECTION SYSTEM AND TERMINAL DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 19, 2024
Priority
Oct 22, 2021 — continuation of PCTCN2021125805
Examiner
RATCLIFFE, LUKE D
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
1502 granted / 1721 resolved
+27.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
1745
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.5%
-37.5% vs TC avg
§103
55.6%
+15.6% vs TC avg
§102
25.5%
-14.5% vs TC avg
§112
12.7%
-27.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1721 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Li (20230176215). Referring to claims 1 and 11, Li shows A detection system, comprising a beam splitter, a polarization module, and a frequency mixer (see figure 3A), wherein the beam splitter (see figure 3B Ref 2021) is configured to perform beam splitting processing on an input signal light (see figure 3B note the laser from the beam shaping module) to obtain a first signal light (see figure 3B note the light going to the transmitting module) and a second signal light (see figure 3B note the signal going to the optical frequency mixing module); the polarization module (see figure 3B Ref 203) is configured to: output a transmitted signal light obtained after at least first polarization processing is performed on the first signal light (see the light going through the transmitting module that passes through the first quarter wave plate Ref 2037); and obtain a reflected signal light of the transmitted signal light (see the return light that is reflected by the apertured primary reflector Ref 2036), and output a third signal light obtained after at least second polarization processing is performed on the reflected signal light (see the light that is passed to the optical frequency mixing module that passes through the second wave plate Ref 2038); and the frequency mixer (see figure 3B Ref 204) is configured to perform frequency mixing processing on the second signal light and the third signal light, or is configured to perform frequency mixing processing on the third signal light and a fourth signal light obtained after at least third polarization processing is performed on the second signal light (see the light signal coming from the beam splitter and the light coming from the transmitting module that are mixed in the optical frequency mixing module). Referring to claims 2 and 12, Li shows the frequency mixer is a polarization frequency mixer, and a polarization state of the second signal light and a polarization state of the third signal light are orthogonal; or the frequency mixer is a non-polarization frequency mixer, and a polarization state of the fourth signal light and a polarization state of the third signal light are the same (see paragraph 96). Referring to claims 3 and 13, Li shows the polarization module comprises a polarization converter and a unidirectional conductor; the unidirectional conductor is configured to output the first signal light to the polarization converter, and is configured to output the third signal light to the frequency mixer (see figure 3B note the apertured primary reflector and the secondary reflector); and the polarization converter is configured to perform the first polarization processing on the first signal light (see figure 3B Ref 2037), and is configured to perform the second polarization processing on the reflected signal light (see figure 3B Ref 2035). Referring to claims 4 and 14, Li shows the unidirectional conductor is further configured to reflect, filter, or absorb a signal light in a first polarization state entering from a first direction, wherein the first direction is an input direction of the third signal light, and the first polarization state is different from a polarization state of the third signal light (see figure 3B Ref 2036 and 2034). Referring to claims 5 and 15, Li shows the unidirectional conductor comprises at least one reflective surface, wherein the unidirectional conductor is configured to reflect the third signal light from a first reflective surface to the frequency mixer; and/or the unidirectional conductor is configured to reflect, from a second reflective surface, a signal light in a first polarization state entering from a first direction, wherein the first direction is an input direction of the third signal light, the first reflective surface is different from the second reflective surface, and the first polarization state is different from a polarization state of the third signal light (see figure 3B note Ref 2036 and 2034). Referring to claims 6 and 16, Li shows the polarization converter comprises an optical antenna and a first polarization transformation component; the optical antenna is configured to output, to the first polarization transformation component, a signal light obtained after at least collimation processing is performed on the first signal light, and is configured to output the third signal light to the unidirectional conductor; and the first polarization transformation component is configured to perform the first polarization processing on the first signal light obtained after the collimation processing, and is configured to output the third signal light obtained after the second polarization processing is performed on the reflected signal light; or the first polarization transformation component is configured to output, to the optical antenna, a fifth signal light obtained after the first polarization processing is performed on the first signal light, and is configured to perform the second polarization processing on the reflected signal light; and the optical antenna is configured to output the transmitted signal light obtained after at least collimation processing is performed on the fifth signal light (see figure 3B note the collimation of the beam entering Ref 203 also see the output of the beam to the scanner and the first quarter wave plate Ref 2037). Referring to claims 7 and 17, Li shows the beam splitter comprises a beam splitter and a second polarization transformation component; the beam splitter is configured to perform beam splitting processing on an input signal light to obtain the first signal light and the second signal light; and the second polarization transformation component is configured to output, to the frequency mixer, the fourth signal light obtained after at least the third polarization processing is performed on the second signal light (see figure 3B note the beam splitter Ref 2021 and the first half wave plate Ref 2022). Referring to claims 8 and 18, Li shows a polarization state of the first signal light and the polarization state of the second signal light are the same (see the only polarizing component acting on the first and second light signal is the first half wave plate Ref 2022). Referring to claims 9 and 19, Li shows the beam splitter is a polarization beam splitter; and a polarization state of the first signal light and the polarization state of the second signal light are orthogonal, and a polarization state of the input signal light and the polarization state of the first signal light are not orthogonal and not parallel (see the frequency mixing module Ref 202 and also see paragraph 96). Referring to claims 10 and 20, Li shows the detection system comprises a transmitting optical path and a receiving optical path, and the transmitting optical path and the receiving optical path are arranged in a coaxial manner (see figure 3B note the coaxial transmitted and received beams to the scanner). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LUKE D RATCLIFFE whose telephone number is (571)272-3110. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00AM-5:00PM EST. 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, Isam Alsomiri can be reached at 571-272-6970. 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. /LUKE D RATCLIFFE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3645
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Prosecution Timeline

Apr 19, 2024
Application Filed
May 06, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
87%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+10.3%)
2y 9m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1721 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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