Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/745,060

INFORMATION OUTPUT DEVICE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jun 17, 2024
Priority
May 24, 2018 — RE 10-2018-0058932 +3 more
Examiner
VANDERVEEN, JEFFREY S
Art Unit
3711
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Hee Su Lee
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
64%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
81%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 64% of resolved cases
64%
Career Allowance Rate
481 granted / 747 resolved
-5.6% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+17.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
784
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.6%
-34.4% vs TC avg
§103
55.1%
+15.1% vs TC avg
§102
17.0%
-23.0% vs TC avg
§112
14.7%
-25.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 747 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-17 are allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claim 1 includes limitations directed towards a plurality of driving units located at an inner side of the expression surface, each of the plurality of driving units corresponding to each of the plurality of pins and including a coil to which an electrical signal is applied; and a plurality of movement units located at the inner side of the expression surface and respectively interposed between the driving units and the pins, each of the plurality of movement units configured to rotate to provide a motion to the pins. Lee teaches 1. An information output apparatus comprising: See Fig. 5, an expression surface including a plurality of expression holes; See Fig. 5, a plurality of pins configured to protrude to the expression surface through the expression holes and express a protrusion signal on the expression surface; See Fig. 1 and 5. Lee teaches the output apparatus, expression surface and plurality of pins in addition to a driving unit (200) and movement units (100); however Lee is silent with regards to the driving units including a coil to which electrical signal is applied. Lee teaches the coil (400) but the coil is not part of the driving unit 200. The prior art of record, alone or in combination, does not teach or suggest the above-identified limitations, and claim 1 is therefore allowed. Claim 10 includes limitations directed towards a driving unit disposed in the base unit, the driving unit configured to be driven by the current flowing in the coil unit to perform an angular movement or a rotational movement; and a guide groove formed in one region of the base unit, and wherein the driving unit is configured to move along the guide groove to cause the expression unit to move in a first direction toward the coil unit and a direction opposite thereto. Lee teaches 10. An information output apparatus comprising: See Fig. 5, at least one information output unit, wherein the at least one information output unit comprises: See Fig. 5, a coil unit disposed to be connected to a power supply, such that a current flows in the coil unit; See Fig. 5; (400), a base unit formed to accommodate the coil unit; See Fig. 5; (500), an expression unit formed and disposed to be sensed by a user; See Fig. 5. The closest prior art of record Lee teaches an information output apparatus, an output unit, a coil unit, a base unit, an expression unit. However, Lee is silent with regards to the driving unit being driven by current flowing in the coil unit to perform an angular movement or a rotation movement and the guide groove formed in one region of the base unit wherein the driving unit is configured to move along the guide groove to cause the expression unit to move in a first direction toward the coil unit and a direction opposite thereto. The prior art of record, alone or in combination, does not teach or suggest the above-identified limitations, and claim 10 is therefore allowed. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claim 4 recites the limitation "the magnetic force member" in "the magnetic force member is positioned to be spaced apart from a center of the movement units." Specifically, the claim does not previously introduce this element. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Cho KR 20120031779 A - which teaches a braille actuator. Jung KR 101661177 B1 - which teaches a braille cell. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEFFREY S VANDERVEEN whose telephone number is (571)270-0503. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 11am - 7pm CST. 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, Nicholas Weiss can be reached at (571) 270-1775. 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. /JEFFREY S VANDERVEEN/Examiner, Art Unit 3711
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 17, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (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
64%
Grant Probability
81%
With Interview (+17.0%)
2y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 747 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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