Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 06, 2026
Application No. 18/761,064

CABLE CONNECTOR DEVICE THAT IS CONFIGURED TO MITIGATE ALIEN CROSSTALK

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Jul 01, 2024
Priority
Jun 29, 2023 — provisional 63/524,128
Examiner
PAUMEN, GARY F
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
BELDEN CANADA ULC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
1755 granted / 1980 resolved
+28.6% vs TC avg
Minimal -2% lift
Without
With
+-1.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 8m
Avg Prosecution
50 currently pending
Career history
1994
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
50.5%
+10.5% vs TC avg
§102
38.3%
-1.7% vs TC avg
§112
4.1%
-35.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1980 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . 35 USC 102 Rejections 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) 17, 18, 22 and 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Karjala 2021/0098945. Regarding claim 17, Karjala (Figure 13) discloses a connector configured to connect cables so as to mitigate alien crosstalk, comprising: a body portion 400; an alien crosstalk mitigation portion 700 configured to provide a shield to the cables from alien crosstalk; wherein the alien crosstalk mitigation portion comprises a first shield connection portion 708 structurally configured to electrically connect to a first cable shield portion 1216 of the first cable (at 504) and a second shield connection portion 712 structurally configured to electrically connect to a second cable shield portion 1216 of the second cable (at 508); wherein the alien crosstalk mitigation portion is structurally configured to electrically connect with the first and second cable shield portions; and wherein the alien crosstalk mitigation portion is structurally configured to electrically connect with the first and second cable shield portions so as to mitigate alien crosstalk by 3 dB or more to the conductors of the cables from a cabling system. Regarding claim 18, Karjala discloses the alien crosstalk mitigation portion 700 is structurally configured to fit within an opening portion in the body portion 400,808 and to be attached to the body portion. Regarding claim 22, Karjala discloses the alien crosstalk mitigation portion 700 comprises a conductive material configured to provide the mitigation in alien crosstalk. Regarding claim 23, Karjala discloses the body portion 400,808 comprises a non-conductive material configured to protect the alien crosstalk mitigation portion 700 from electrical contact. 35 USC 103 Rejections The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 19-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Karjala. Regarding claim 19, it would have been an obvious matter of design to form the body portion 400 of Karjala of a plastic material, for its good insulative properties. Regarding claim 20, Karjala (Figures 12 and 13) discloses the body portion 400 further comprises a first connection portion structurally configured to electrically connect a first conductor of the first cable 504 to a first conductor of the second cable 508 and a second connection portion structurally configured to connect a second conductor of the first cable to a second conductor of the second cable. Regarding claim 21, Karjala discloses the body portion 400 further comprises an urging portion (screws) structurally configured to urge the first and second conductors of the respective first and second cables 504,508 into electrical contact with the first and second connection portions. Claims Defining Over Prior Art Claims 1-16 are allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art discloses or teaches the first body portion comprises a cover portion that is structurally configured to be selectively removed from the second body portion to expose the second body portion for connection of the cables to the second body portion; wherein the second body portion comprises a receiving portion configured to receive conductors of a first cable and conductors of a second cable; wherein the alien crosstalk mitigation portion comprises a first shield portion and a second shield portion; in combination with the rest of the subject matter of the respective independent claim. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARY F PAUMEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2013. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th. 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, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. 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. /GARY F PAUMEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 01, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12700698
INLINE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SYSTEM
2y 6m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12700699
Electrical Connector Assembly
2y 6m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12700697
CONNECTOR WITH CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE
2y 5m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12700695
CONNECTOR
2y 7m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12696933
AN AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING DIELECTRIC HEATING
1y 11m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
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
89%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (-1.5%)
1y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1980 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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