Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/679,006

OPTICAL ELEMENT DRIVING MECHANISM

Non-Final OA

Filed

May 30, 2024

Priority

May 30, 2023 — provisional 63/469,676

Examiner

RHODES, JR, LEON W

Art Unit

2852

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

TDK Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +11.6% interview lift. Interview lift (+11.6%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 907 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

RHODES, JR, LEON W View full profile →

Grants 82% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

746 granted / 907 resolved

+14.2% vs TC avg

Moderate +12% lift

Without

With

+11.6%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 2m

Avg Prosecution

14 currently pending

Career history

923

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.6%

-39.4% vs TC avg

§103

75.8%

+35.8% vs TC avg

§102

9.7%

-30.3% vs TC avg

§112

9.7%

-30.3% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 907 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

May 30, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 20, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/180,972

Patent 12681419

CLEANING DEVICE, IMAGE HOLDING BODY UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

3y 4m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/394,116

Patent 12681361

APERTURE MODULE AND CAMERA MODULE INCLUDING THE SAME

2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/515,751

Patent 12681258

CAMERA MODULE

2y 7m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/677,769

Patent 12681367

FOCAL REDUCER

2y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/892,309

Patent 12678054

ADJUSTABLE DENTAL IMAGING DEVICE

1y 9m to grant Granted Jul 14, 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.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

82%

Grant Probability

94%

With Interview (+11.6%)

2y 2m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 907 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.