Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/696,489

VACUUM SWITCH DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A VACUUM SWITCH DEVICE

Non-Final OA

Filed

Mar 28, 2024

Priority

Sep 28, 2021 — DE 10 2021 210 862.8 +1 more

Examiner

BOLTON, WILLIAM A

Art Unit

2831

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +5.8% interview lift. Interview lift (+5.8%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 762 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

BOLTON, WILLIAM A View full profile →

Grants 89% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

679 granted / 762 resolved

+21.1% vs TC avg

Moderate +6% lift

Without

With

+5.8%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Fast prosecutor

1y 10m

Avg Prosecution

24 currently pending

Career history

783

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.2%

-39.8% vs TC avg

§103

84.8%

+44.8% vs TC avg

§102

11.2%

-28.8% vs TC avg

§112

1.7%

-38.3% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 762 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 28, 2024

Application Filed

May 15, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/207,500

Patent 12683104

CAPACITOR HARVESTER

3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/404,007

Patent 12683097

Device for Extinguishing Arcs in an Electrical Circuit

2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/556,718

Patent 12683103

RAPID SAFETY SWITCH AND RAPID SAFETY SWITCH SYSTEM

2y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/557,014

Patent 12683108

AIR-BLOWING TRIPPING MECHANISM AND MOLDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKER

2y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/580,667

Patent 12683100

BUTTON DEVICE FOR CASINO MACHINES

2y 5m 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

89%

Grant Probability

95%

With Interview (+5.8%)

1y 10m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 762 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.