Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/655,990

METHOD OF PROCESSING SUBSTRATE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §103§DP
Filed
May 06, 2024
Examiner
HUNTER III, CARNELL
Art Unit
2893
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Kokusai Electric Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
92%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 5m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 92% — above average
92%
Career Allow Rate
57 granted / 62 resolved
+23.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+15.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
86
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
49.4%
+9.4% vs TC avg
§102
29.2%
-10.8% vs TC avg
§112
20.0%
-20.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 62 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §DP
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 . Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention I, claims 1-20 and 22, in the reply filed on 11/10/2025 is acknowledged. IDS The IDS document(s) filed on 05/06/2024 have been considered. Copies of the PTO-1449 documents are herewith enclosed with this office action. Double Patenting The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b). The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13. The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. Claims 1-20, and 22 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19, and 21 of U.S. Patent No. 12037677 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other as demonstrated in the table below: Application # 18655990 Patent # US 12037677 B2 Claim 1 - A method of processing a substrate, comprising: (a) forming a seed layer containing a predetermined element on the substrate by performing a process a predetermined number of times, the process including alternately performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor, the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one selected from the group of carbon and nitrogen, and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor; and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer. wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set not less than either a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2) or a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (b). Claim 1 - A method of processing a substrate comprising: (a) forming a seed layer containing a predetermined element on the substrate by performing a process a predetermined number of times, the process including alternately performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor, the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one selected from the group of carbon and nitrogen, and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material which includes a plasma- excited gas to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor; and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer, wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set higher than either a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2) or a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (b). Claim 22. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform a process, the process comprising: (a) forming a seed layer containing a predetermined element on the substrate by performing a sequence a predetermined number of times, the sequence including alternately performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor, the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one selected from the group of carbon and nitrogen, and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor; and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer, wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set not less than either a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2) or a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (b). Claim 21. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform a process, the process comprising: (a) forming a seed layer containing a predetermined element on a substrate by performing a sequence a predetermined number of times, the sequence including alternately performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor, the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one selected from the group of carbon and nitrogen, and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material which includes a plasma- excited gas to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor; and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer, wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set higher than either a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2) or a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (b). The claims of the instant application are broader than the patented claims thus anticipates the patent claims. Claims 2-20 of the instant application correspond to claims 2-19 of the patent. Claims 1-9, 15-20, and 22 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No. 11028473 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other as demonstrated in the table below: Application # 18655990 Patent # US 11028473 B2 Claim 1 - A method of processing a substrate, comprising: (a) forming a seed layer containing a predetermined element on the substrate by performing a process a predetermined number of times, the process including alternately performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor, the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one selected from the group of carbon and nitrogen, and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor; and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer. wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set not less than either a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2) or a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (b). Claim 1 – A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: (a) forming a seed layer containing a predetermined element on a substrate by performing a process multiple times, the process including performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor, the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one of carbon or nitrogen, and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor, thereby lowering concentration of the at least one of carbon or nitrogen from the adsorption layer; and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer, wherein (a-1) and (a-2) are alternately performed in (a), and wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set higher than a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2). The claims of the instant application are broader than the patented claims thus anticipates the patent claims. Claims 2-9 and 15-20 of the instant application correspond to claims 1-15 of the patent. For claim 22 of the instant application, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to store the process of claim 1 of US Patent No. 11,028,473 on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. Claim 22. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform a process, the process comprising: (a) forming a seed layer containing a predetermined element on the substrate by performing a sequence a predetermined number of times, the sequence including alternately performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor, the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one selected from the group of carbon and nitrogen, and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor; and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer, wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set not less than either a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2) or a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (b). Claim 1 – A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: (a) forming a seed layer containing a predetermined element on a substrate by performing a process multiple times, the process including performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor, the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one of carbon or nitrogen, and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor, thereby lowering concentration of the at least one of carbon or nitrogen from the adsorption layer; and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer, wherein (a-1) and (a-2) are alternately performed in (a), and wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set higher than a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2). Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claims 1-14, 17-20 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xiao et al. (US 2013/0323435 A1), hereafter “Xiao”, and further in view of Harada et al. (US 2014/0256156 A1), hereafter “Harada”. As to claim 1, Xiao teaches a method of processing a substrate, comprising: (a) forming a seed layer (⁋ [0128], read on by “amorphous or crystalline silicon film”) containing a predetermined element (Silicon) on the substrate by performing a process a predetermined number of times (⁋ [0131], Fig. 4, wherein the process is repeated until the desired thickness is obtained wherein someone familiar with the process would be aware of how many times to repeat the process to obtain the necessary thickness), the process including alternately performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate (⁋⁋ [0129]-[0130]), where the substrates are placed in the reactor and the precursor is introduced) to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor (⁋ [0092]; “In a typical ALD….chemically adsorb onto the surface of the substrate”), the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand (⁋ [0128], [0130])) and a ligand (⁋ [0130], “organoaminodisilane”) which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one selected from the group of carbon and nitrogen (⁋ [0130], various Formulas shown), and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor (⁋ [0131], read on by “reducing agent source”) and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate (⁋ [0131], where the organoaminodisilane is not mentioned in the “deposit a silicon-containing film onto the one or more substrates” step) to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer. Xiao fails to teach wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set not less than either a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2) or a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (b). Harada teaches a similar process of forming a substrate wherein after the seed layer formation (⁋ [0134]), another precursor (⁋ [0134], SiH4) is applied at a pressure of 1 to 1000 Pa (⁋ [0137]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the pressure of the precursor taught by Harada into the method of Xiao because it is possible to improve a film thickness uniformity of the Si film in a plane of the wafer (⁋ [0140]). Examiner notes that Xiao teaches the first precursor being introduced at 10 mTorr to 760 Torr (⁋ [0043]) which converts to 1.33 Pa to 101,325 Pa resulting in Xiao’s pressure at (a-1_ being not less than the pressure taught by Harada. As to claim 2, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein the ligand desorption material includes a plasma-excited gas (⁋ [0131], hydrogen plasma). As to claim 3, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein the ligand desorption material includes a plasma-excited reducing gas (⁋ [0131], hydrogen plasma). As to claim 4, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein the ligand desorption material includes a plasma-excited hydrogen-containing gas (see claim 3). As to claim 5, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein the ligand desorption material includes a plasma-excited inert gas (⁋ [0083], where hydrogen, H2, is considered an inert gases). As to claim 6, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein the ligand desorption material further includes a halogen-element-containing gas (⁋ [00131], hydrogen chloride, there is no mention that the 3 hydrogen groups cannot be combined). As to claim 7, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein the ligand desorption material further includes a reducing gas (see claim 3). As to claim 8, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein the ligand desorption material further includes a non-plasma-excited reducing gas (⁋ [0083], hydrogen, there is no specification that the 3 hydrogen groups cannot be combined). As to claim 9, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein in (a-2), the plasma-excited inert gas and the non-plasma-excited reducing gas are mixed in the space where the substrate is located and supplied to the substrate (⁋⁋ [0129], [0131]; where it is indicated both the substrate and hydrogen groups are placed into the same reactor). As to claim 10, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein in (a-2), the non-plasma-excited reducing gas is intermittently supplied (as a result of alternating steps, the ligand step would be stopped while other steps are running then continued thus occurring intermittently). As to claim 11, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein in (a-2), the plasma-excited inert gas is intermittently supplied (see claim 9). As to claim 13, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein in (a-2), the non-plasma-excited reducing gas includes at least one selected from the group of hydrogen gas (see claim 8), a deuterium gas, a silicon hydride gas, and a boron hydride gas. As to claim 17, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein in (a-1), an exhaust of the first precursor from the space where the substrate is located is stopped (⁋ [0131], “and the cycle can be repeated until the desired thickness of a film is obtained”; once obtained the exhaust cycle is complete). As to claim 20, Xiao in view of Harada teaches a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device (⁋ [0052], “semiconductor devices”) comprising the method of claim1. As to claim 22, Xiao in view of Harada teaches a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform a process, the process comprising: (a) forming a seed layer (⁋ [0128], read on by “amorphous or crystalline silicon film”) containing a predetermined element on a substrate (Silicon) by performing a sequence a predetermined number of times (⁋ [0131], Fig. 4, wherein the process is repeated until the desired thickness is obtained wherein someone familiar with the process would be aware of how many times to repeat the process to obtain the necessary thickness), the sequence including alternately performing: (a-1) supplying a first precursor to the substrate (⁋⁋ [0129]-[0130]), where the substrates are placed in the reactor and the precursor is introduced) to form an adsorption layer of the first precursor (⁋ [0092]; “In a typical ALD….chemically adsorb onto the surface of the substrate”), the first precursor containing the predetermined element and a ligand (⁋ [0128], [0130])) and a ligand (⁋ [0130], “organoaminodisilane”) which is coordinated to the predetermined element and which contains at least one selected from the group of carbon and nitrogen (⁋ [0130], various Formulas shown), and (a-2) supplying a ligand desorption material to the substrate to desorb the ligand from the adsorption layer of the first precursor (⁋ [0131], read on by “reducing agent source”) and (b) supplying a second precursor containing the predetermined element and not containing the ligand to the substrate (⁋ [0131], where the organoaminodisilane is not mentioned in the “deposit a silicon-containing film onto the one or more substrates” step) to form a film containing the predetermined element on the seed layer. Xiao fails to teach wherein a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set not less than either a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (a-2) or a pressure at a space where the substrate is located in (b). Harada teaches a similar process of forming a substrate wherein after the seed layer formation (⁋ [0134]), another precursor (⁋ [0134], SiH4) is applied at a pressure of 1 to 1000 Pa (⁋ [0137]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the pressure of the precursor taught by Harada into the method of Xiao because it is possible to improve a film thickness uniformity of the Si film in a plane of the wafer (⁋ [0140]). Examiner notes that Xiao teaches the first precursor being introduced at 10 mTorr to 760 Torr (⁋ [0043]) which converts to 1.33 Pa to 101,325 Pa resulting in Xiao’s pressure at (a-1_ being not less than the pressure taught by Harada. Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xiao in view of Harada, as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Tabata et al. (US 2014/0123897 A1), hereafter “Tabata”. As to claim 12, Xiao in view of Harada teaches the plasma-excited inert gas is intermittently supplied (see claim 9) but fails to teach wherein in (a-2), the plasma-excited inert gas is intermittently plasma-excited. Tabata teaches a plasma generation apparatus where a plasma excited gas is supplied (⁋ [0114], “the plasma excitation gas is generated from the supplied inert gas of oxygen, nitrogen, or the like”) and is intermittently plasma-excited (⁋ [0187]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the inert gas intermittent plasma-excitation of Tabata into the method of Xiao in view of Harada to yield a plasma excitation gas having an extremely high chemical reactivity is generated in the plasma generation apparatus (⁋ [0187]). Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xiao in view of Harada, as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Hirose et al. (US 2013/0149874 A1), hereafter “Hirose”. As to claim 14, Xiao in view of Harada teaches wherein the pressure at the space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is set not less than the pressure at the space where the substrate is located in (b) (see claim 1). Xiao in view of Harada fails to teach wherein the pressure at the space where the substrate is located in (a-1) is not less than the pressure at the space where the substrate is located in (a-2). Hirose teaches a similar process of forming a substrate wherein a reducing gas (⁋ [0061], “hydrogen”) is at a pressure of 1 to 3,000 Pa (⁋ [0137]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the pressure at the reducing agent step taught by Hirose with the method of Xiao and Harada to thermally activate the H.sub.2 gas and perform oxidation (⁋ [0137]). Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xiao in view of Harada, as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Obu et al. (US 2014/0187024 A1), hereafter “Obu”. As to claim 18, Xizo in view of Harada fail to disclose wherein (a-1) is performed under a condition in which the first precursor is not pyrolyzed, and (b) is performed under a condition in which the second precursor is pyrolyzed. Obu teaches a method of forming a seed layer and wherein a DIPAS is performed under a condition in which it is decomposed (pyrolyzed) (⁋ [0206]). Obu also teaches after formation of the first seed layer, a second seed layer is formed by thermal decomposition (⁋ [0134]) of disilane. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the pyrolyzing of the DIPAS as taught by Obu into the method of Xiao in view of Harada to prevent the impurities from being introduced into the formed film (⁋ [0206]). Additionally, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the non-pyrolyzing of the disilane as taught by Obu into the method of Xiao in view of Harada so that the silicon film is formed (⁋ [0134]). Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xiao in view of Harada, as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Son (US 2006/0154453 A1), hereafter “Son”. As to claim 19, Xiao in view of Harada does not teach wherein an insulation film is formed on a surface of the substrate, and the seed layer is formed on the insulation film. Son teaches a similar process of forming a seed layer with an insulation pattern formed on a substrate and a seed layer containing silicon formed on top (⁋ [0019]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to include the insulation film as taught by Son with the method taught by Xiao in view of Harada in order to prevent the native oxide layer from forming on the underlying layer (⁋ [0012]). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 15-16 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. As to claim 15, Xiao is the closest prior art and fails to teach wherein a supply flow rate of the first precursor in (a-1) is set not less than an exhaust flow rate of the first precursor exhausted from the space where the substrate is located in (a-1). As to claim 16, Xiao is the closest prior art and fails to teach wherein in (a-1), the first precursor is exhausted from the space where the substrate is located while supplying the first precursor into the space, and at this time, a supply flow rate of the first precursor supplied into the space is set not less than an exhaust flow rate of the first precursor exhausted from the space. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CARNELL HUNTER whose telephone number is (571)270-1796. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:30pm. 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, Sue Purvis can be reached on 571-272-1236. 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. /CARNELL HUNTER III/Examiner, Art Unit 2893 /SUE A PURVIS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2893
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 06, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 18, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §DP (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
92%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+15.0%)
3y 5m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 62 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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