Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/766,001

Device and Method for Sensing an Electrical Property of a Test Sample

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jul 08, 2024
Priority
Jul 28, 2023 — EU 23188416.4
Examiner
ALLGOOD, ALESA M
Art Unit
2858
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Stichting IMEC Nederland
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
533 granted / 648 resolved
+14.3% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+18.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
665
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
83.0%
+43.0% vs TC avg
§102
9.6%
-30.4% vs TC avg
§112
4.1%
-35.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 648 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Priority 2. Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file. Information Disclosure Statement 3. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/08/2024 is considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claim 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph, as based on a disclosure which is not enabling. The disclosure does not enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention without “wherein the sensing device comprises an input port operably coupled to the closed loop resonator configured to input the input excitation, and an output port operably coupled to the closed loop resonator configured to output a transmission parameter measurement based on a response of the closed loop resonator and/or the open loop resonator” of Claim 3 and “wherein the closed loop resonator is configured to be coupled to the input port and to the output port via one or more transmission lines to generate a passband resonance or a stopband resonance” of Claim 4, which is/are critical or essential to the practice of the invention but not included in the claim(s). See In re Mayhew, 527 F.2d 1229, 188 USPQ 356 (CCPA 1976). Claim 1 discloses “the closed loop resonator is configured to couple in an input excitation and to transfer the input excitation towards the open loop resonator, and the open loop resonator is configured to generate localized electric fields between the first loop end and the second loop end propagating through the test sample”. Without the input port operably coupled to the closed loop resonator configured to input the input excitation, and an output port operably coupled to the closed loop resonator configured to output a transmission parameter measurement based on a response of the closed loop resonator and/or the open loop resonator, and the closed loop resonator coupled to the input port and to the output port via one or more transmission lines to generate a passband resonance or a stopband resonance, the sensor would be incapable of coupling in an input excitation, and an output port coupled to the closed loop resonator to output a transmission parameter measurement based on a response of the closed loop resonator and/or the open loop resonator, thus generating the desired input and output signals. Including the subject matter of Claims 3 and 4 into all and any new independency claims is suggested to overcome the rejection. All subsequent claims are also rejected due to dependency. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Pepper et al. (US 6809991) discloses detecting hidden features in an environment with consideration of the resonant frequencies of one type of object, such as a landmine, are significantly different from the resonant frequencies of other objects, such rocks, or tree roots. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALESA ALLGOOD whose telephone number is (571)270-5811. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30 AM-3:30 PM. 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, Eman Alkafawi can be reached at (571) 272-4448. 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. /ALESA ALLGOOD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
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Prosecution Timeline

Jul 08, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 14, 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
82%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+18.4%)
2y 7m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 648 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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