Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 12, 2026
Application No. 18/757,973

DETECTION METHOD OF LIDAR AND LIDAR

Non-Final OA §102§Other
Filed
Jun 28, 2024
Priority
Dec 28, 2021 — CN 202111632764.9 +1 more
Examiner
LUU, THANH X
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Hesai Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
1069 granted / 1369 resolved
+18.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
1393
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
42.1%
+2.1% vs TC avg
§102
27.0%
-13.0% vs TC avg
§112
19.3%
-20.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1369 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §Other
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 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1, 14, 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a2 as being anticipated by Yamada et al. (U.S. PGPUB 2024/0169572). Regarding claim 1, Yamada et al. disclose (Figs.) a detection method of a LiDAR, the detection method comprises: sampling (reading out) a signal outputted from each of a plurality of detector groups (pixels) in each of a plurality of detector units (11-1, 11-2) of the LiDAR, to determine a sampling result corresponding to the respective detector group; and determining a point cloud map (combined/stitched point cloud; [0042]) based on sampling results corresponding to the plurality of detector groups. Regarding claim 14, Yamada et al. disclose (Figs. 11) a LiDAR, comprising: an emitter module comprising a plurality of emitter units (52-1, 52-2); a detector module comprising a plurality of detector units (11-1, 11-2), wherein the plurality of detector units and the plurality of emitter units have a one-to-one correspondence, and the detector unit comprises a plurality of detector groups (pixels); and a processor (51) configured to sample a signal outputted from each of the plurality of detector groups, to determine a sampling result (outputs) corresponding to the respective detector group; and determine a point cloud map (combined/stitched point cloud; [0042]) based on sampling results corresponding to the plurality of detector groups. Regarding claim 15, Yamada et al. disclose (Figs. 11) a LiDAR, wherein an emitter module of the LiDAR comprises a plurality of emitter units (52-1, 52-2), a detector module of the LiDAR comprises a plurality of detector units (11-1, 11-2), there is one-to-one correspondence between the plurality of detector units and the plurality of emitter units, the detector unit comprises a plurality of detector groups (pixels); and the LiDAR further comprises: a sampler (51; output circuit) configure to sample a signal outputted from each of a plurality of detector groups in each of a plurality of detector units of the LiDAR, to determine a sampling result corresponding to the respective detector group; and a mapper (13, 14) configure to determine a point cloud map (combined/stitched point cloud; [0042]) based on sampling results corresponding to the plurality of detector groups. Claim(s) 1, 14, 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Phillips et al. (U.S/ Patent 11,275,155). Regarding claim 1, Phillips et al. disclose (Figs. 7-10) a detection method of a LiDAR, the detection method comprises: sampling (reading out) a signal outputted from each of a plurality of detector groups (1002) in each of a plurality of detector units (1000A, 1000B) of the LiDAR, to determine a sampling result corresponding to the respective detector group; and determining a point cloud map (col. 3, lines 41-42) based on sampling results corresponding to the plurality of detector groups. Regarding claim 14, Phillips et al. disclose (Figs. 1, 7-10) a LiDAR, comprising: an emitter module comprising a plurality of emitter units (700A, 700B); a detector module comprising a plurality of detector units (1000A, 1000B), wherein the plurality of detector units and the plurality of emitter units have a one-to-one correspondence, and the detector unit comprises a plurality of detector groups (1002); and a processor (108) configured to sample a signal outputted from each of the plurality of detector groups, to determine a sampling result (outputs) corresponding to the respective detector group; and determine a point cloud map (col. 3, lines 41-42) based on sampling results corresponding to the plurality of detector groups. Regarding claim 15, Phillips et al. disclose (Figs. 1, 7-10) a LiDAR, wherein an emitter module of the LiDAR comprises a plurality of emitter units (700A, 700B), a detector module of the LiDAR comprises a plurality of detector units (1000A, 1000B), there is one-to-one correspondence between the plurality of detector units and the plurality of emitter units, the detector unit comprises a plurality of detector groups (1002); and the LiDAR further comprises: a sampler (108) configure to sample a signal outputted from each of a plurality of detector groups in each of a plurality of detector units of the LiDAR, to determine a sampling result corresponding to the respective detector group; and a mapper (108) configure to determine a point cloud map (col. 3, lines 41-42) based on sampling results corresponding to the plurality of detector groups. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-8, 10-13, 16-21 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THANH LUU whose telephone number is (571)272-2441. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-5:30PM. 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, Georgia Epps can be reached at 571-272-2328. 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. /THANH LUU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2878
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 28, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §Other (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
78%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+10.2%)
2y 6m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1369 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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