Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/757,870

Heatsink and Connector Assembly

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 28, 2024
Priority
Jun 29, 2023 — CN 202310789097.8
Examiner
BURGOS-GUNTIN, NELSON R
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
TE Connectivity Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
92%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 92% — above average
92%
Career Allowance Rate
557 granted / 602 resolved
+32.5% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 9m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
605
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
27.2%
-12.8% vs TC avg
§102
68.5%
+28.5% vs TC avg
§112
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 602 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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Luo et al. (US Patent Application Publication 11143830 B2). As per claim 1, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, adapted to be installed on a housing 13 of a connector 1, comprising: at least one heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2) including a plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) extending in a longitudinal direction (along up/down direction of 1, shown in figure 4) of the heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2), the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) stacked in a spaced (along 11, shown in figure 4 and 5) manner in a width direction (of 1 and 2) of the heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2) and assembled together to define an air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) extending in the longitudinal direction (along up/down direction of 1, shown in figure 4) between adjacent heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59), wherein at least one of a plurality of air passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) defined by the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) is sized to allow a longitudinally extending heat generation device 18 to at least partially pass through (17 to 111) and be positioned within a corresponding one of the at least one air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11). As per claim 2, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the sizes of the other air passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) of the plurality of air passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) in the width direction (of 1 and 2) are distinct from that of the at least one air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) in the width direction (of 1 and 2) and prevent the heat generation device 18 from being positioned within the other air passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11). As per claim 3, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the size of the at least one air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) in the width direction (of 1 and 2) is greater than the sizes of the other air passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) in the width direction (of 1 and 2). As per claim 4, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the plurality of air passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) include a plurality of first passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) and at least one second passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11), wherein the at least one air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) comprises the at least one second passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11). As per claim 5, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the sizes of the plurality of first passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) in the width direction (of 1 and 2) are the same as each other and are smaller than the size of the second passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) in the width direction (of 1 and 2) so as to allow only the heat generation device 18 to be positioned within the second passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11). As per claim 6, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein each second passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) is positioned between adjacent first passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) in the width direction (of 1 and 2). As per claim 7, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the at least one second passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) comprises two second passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) spaced (along 11, shown in figure 4 and 5) apart in the width direction (of 1 and 2), and the number of the first passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) between the two second passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) is more than the number of the first passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) positioned outside of each second passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11). As per claim 8, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) of each heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2) are fixedly assembled together such that spacings between the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) in the width direction (of 1 and 2) are constant. As per claim 9, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) of each heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2) are movable relative to each other in the width direction (of 1 and 2), spacings between the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) in the width direction (of 1 and 2) are adjustable to adjust the size of at least one air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) in the width direction (of 1 and 2) to allow the corresponding heat generation device 18 to be positioned therein. As per claim 10, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein each heatsink fin (see column 1, lines 56-59) has opposite bottom and top ends in a height direction (along left/right direction of 1, shown in figure 4) of the heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2), and the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) of each heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2) are fixedly or detachably assembled together at one of the bottom and top ends (see figure 4 and 5). As per claim 11, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, further comprising a heat transferring base plate 12 on which the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) are arranged, the heat transferring base plate 12 adapted to be installed on the housing 13 of the connector 1 to conduct heat from the connector 1 to the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59). As per claim 12, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the heatsink 11 further comprises a holding member 17 adapted to be engaged with the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59), the heat transferring base plate 12, and the housing 13 of the connector 1 so as to fixedly hold the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) and the heat transferring base plate 12 relative to the housing 13. As per claim 13, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein each heatsink fin (see column 1, lines 56-59) is formed with a groove 111 penetrating through the heatsink fin (see column 1, lines 56-59) in the width direction (of 1 and 2). As per claim 14, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the grooves 111 of the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) of each heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2) are aligned with each other in the width direction (of 1 and 2) to allow the holding member 17 to pass through (17 to 111) the grooves 111 and to fix the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) and the heat transferring base plate 12 onto the housing 13. As per claim 15, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein a portion of the holding member 17 passing through the grooves 111 in the width direction (of 1 and 2) is positioned close to the heat transferring base plate 12. As per claim 16, Luo teaches a heatsink 11, wherein the main body portion of the heat generation device 18 positioned in the at least one air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) is positioned above the portion of the holding member 17. As per claim 17, Luo teaches a connector assembly (figure 1), comprising: a connector 1 including a housing 13 defining an accommodating cavity (wherein 2 fits in, see figure 20) adapted to accommodate a connector module (of 1) and receive an insertion module (of 1) of a mating connector 2; and a heatsink 11 installed on the housing 13 to at least dissipate heat from the connector module (of 1) or insertion module (of 1) positioned in the accommodating cavity (wherein 2 fits in, see figure 20), including: at least one heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2) including a plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) extending in a longitudinal direction (along up/down direction of 1, shown in figure 4) of the heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2), the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) stacked in a spaced (along 11, shown in figure 4 and 5) manner in a width direction (of 1 and 2) of the heatsink assembly (shown in figure 2) and assembled together to define an air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) extending in the longitudinal direction (along up/down direction of 1, shown in figure 4) between adjacent heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59), at least one of a plurality of air passages (along 18 either on left or right side of 11) defined by the plurality of heatsink fins (see column 1, lines 56-59) is sized to allow a longitudinally extending heat generation device 18 to at least partially pass through (17 to 111) and be positioned within a corresponding one of the at least one air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11). As per claim 18, Luo teaches a connector assembly (figure 1), further comprising a heat generation device 18 extending in the longitudinal direction (along up/down direction of 1, shown in figure 4) and at least partially passing through and positioned within a corresponding one of the at least one air passage (along 18 either on left or right side of 11). As per claim 19, Luo teaches a connector assembly (figure 1), wherein the heat generation device 18 is connected to the connector module (of 1). As per claim 20, Luo teaches a connector assembly (figure 1), wherein the connector 1 is a socket connector 1, and the heat generation device 18 includes a light guide tube (see column 6, lines 23-34). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NELSON R BURGOS-GUNTIN whose telephone number is (571)270-0574. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00am-5:00PM, Monday-Friday. 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, Abdullah A. Riyami can be reached on (571)270-3119. 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. /Nelson R. Burgos-Guntin/Examiner, Art Unit 2831 /ABDULLAH A RIYAMI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2831
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 28, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
92%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+4.3%)
1y 9m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 602 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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