Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/698,103

ELECTRICAL FEEDTHROUGH AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Apr 03, 2024
Priority
Oct 05, 2021 — DE 10 2021 211 205.6 +1 more
Examiner
BURNS, TREMESHA WILLIS
Art Unit
2847
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Vitesco Technologies GmbH
OA Round
2 (Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
673 granted / 867 resolved
+9.6% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+17.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
54 currently pending
Career history
887
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
47.2%
+7.2% vs TC avg
§102
49.9%
+9.9% vs TC avg
§112
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 867 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Response to Amendment Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 12 – 18 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection. 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. Claims 12 – 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Duppe et al. (DE102012217559). Regarding claim 12, in Figure 1, Duppe discloses an electrical feedthrough (10) configured to contact a heating conductor of an electrically heatable honeycomb body, comprising: a pin (6) that is electrically conductive and having an axial cutout (10; also right and left grooves in top portion of connecting part 6) that extends axially from a longitudinal end of the pin; an insulation layer (4) that is electrically insulating; and a bushing (1) in which the insulation layer and the pin are at least partially accommodated, wherein the pin is arranged centrally and at least some portions of the pin including the axial cutout are completely surrounded in a circumferential direction by the insulation layer (Figure 1), wherein the pin, the insulation layer, and the bushing are connected to one another by a form fit and/or a force fit such that they cannot be separated non-destructively (Figure 1; pg. 3, 6th paragraph). Regarding claim 13, Duppe discloses wherein a radial and/or axial force on an outer surface of the bushing creates the form fit and/or force fit between the bushing, the insulation layer, and the pin (Figure 1; pg. 3, 6th paragraph). Regarding claim 14, Duppe discloses wherein an axial and/or radial force on the insulation layer creates the form fit and/or force fit between the insulation layer and the bushing and/or between the insulation layer and the pin (Figure 1; pg. 3, 6th paragraph). Regarding claim 15, Duppe discloses wherein an axial and/or radial force acting on the pin from the inside creates the form fit and/or force fit between the pin and the insulation layer and/or the insulation layer and the bushing (Figure 1; pg. 3, 6th paragraph). Regarding claim 16, Duppe discloses wherein the axial cutout is configured to receive a shaped piece (Figure 1). Regarding claim 17, Duppe discloses wherein the insulation layer and/or the bushing and/or the pin have alternating concave or convex contact surfaces via which they are in contact with each other (Figure 1). Regarding claim 18, Duppe discloses wherein respective contact surfaces between the pin and the insulation layer and/or between the insulation layer and the bushing have surface-enlarging elements (Figure 1). Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TREMESHA W BURNS whose telephone number is (571)270-3391. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am - 4:30 pm 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, Timothy Thompson can be reached at (571) 272-2342. 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. TREMESHA W. BURNS Primary Examiner Art Unit 2847 /TREMESHA W BURNS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 03, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 31, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Mar 17, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 11, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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3y 7m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12676463
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Patent 12668374
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3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12672234
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2y 10m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12666544
TEMPORARY PANEL RAILS
2y 4m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+17.7%)
2y 6m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 867 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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