Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/767,220

MOBILE DEVICE FOR REDUCING SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATE

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Jul 09, 2024
Priority
May 20, 2024 — TW 113118506
Examiner
HU, RUI MENG
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Acer Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 4m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
404 granted / 603 resolved
+7.0% vs TC avg
Strong +24% interview lift
Without
With
+24.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
625
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
82.5%
+42.5% vs TC avg
§102
9.7%
-30.3% vs TC avg
§112
5.6%
-34.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 603 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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) 1-4 and 6-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by KOLITSIDAS (US 20210296787 A1). For claim 1. KOLITSIDAS discloses A mobile device ([0076], [0077]) for reducing SAR (Specific Absorption Rate), comprising: a grounding radiation element ([0051], [0055], rear edge 25), coupled to a ground voltage; a feeding radiation element (figures 3-4, [0057], radiating element 41), having a feeding point; a main radiation element (figures 3-4, [0053], meandering sections 36), coupled to the feeding radiation element; a first side radiation element (left-side meandering section 37), coupled to the feeding radiation element, wherein the main radiation element (meandering sections 36) is coupled through the first side radiation element to a first grounding point on the grounding radiation element (rear edge 25); a second side radiation element (right-side meandering section 37), wherein the main radiation element (meandering sections 36) is further coupled through the second side radiation element to a second grounding point on the grounding radiation element (rear edge 25); and a dielectric substrate ([0051], [0056], [0057], dielectric substrate 22), wherein the grounding radiation element, the feeding radiation element, the main radiation element, the first side radiation element, and the second side radiation element are disposed on the dielectric substrate (figures 2-4, [0056], [0057]); wherein an antenna structure is formed by the grounding radiation element, the feeding radiation element, the main radiation element, the first side radiation element, and the second side radiation element ([0001], [0010], [0011]); wherein the main radiation element and the feeding radiation element have a plurality of edge notches ([0011], figures 3-4). For claim 2. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, KOLITSIDAS discloses wherein a closed slot region (tuning element 26) is surrounded by the grounding radiation element, the feeding radiation element, the main radiation element, the first side radiation element, and the second side radiation element ([0051]). For claim 3. The mobile device as claimed in claim 2, KOLITSIDAS discloses wherein the closed slot region substantially has a variable-width U-shape ([0051]). For claim 4. The mobile device as claimed in claim 2, KOLITSIDAS discloses wherein the closed slot region comprises a first branch portion, a second branch portion, and a widening portion ([0051]: The shape of the tuning element 26 may have different form, such as circular/oval as in Vivaldi or essentially square as in BOR). For claim 6. The mobile device as claimed in claim 4, KOLITSIDAS discloses wherein the second branch portion of the closed slot region is positioned between the feeding radiation element and the grounding radiation element (figure 4). For claim 7. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, KOLITSIDAS discloses wherein the main radiation element has 5 edge notches, and the feeding radiation element has 2 edge notches (figure 4). For claim 8. The mobile device as claimed in claim 1, KOLITSIDAS discloses wherein each of the edge notches substantially has a rectangular shape (figure 4). For claim 9. The mobile device as claimed in claim 4, KOLITSIDAS discloses wherein the antenna structure covers a first frequency band, a second frequency band, and a third frequency band ([0071]). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 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. 7. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. 8. Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KOLITSIDAS (US 20210296787 A1). For claim 10. The mobile device as claimed in claim 9, KOLITSIDAS discloses wherein the first frequency band is from 2400 MHz to 2500 MHz ([0071]: operating frequency range of 2 GHz to 5.5 GHz). But fails to mention the second frequency band is from 5150 MHz to 5850 MHz, and the third frequency band is from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz. Official notice is taken that antenna operating in these frequency ranges is well known in the art. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques into the art of KOLITSIDAS as to cover more frequency bands to improve utility. Allowable Subject Matter 9. Claims 5 and 11-15 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, because none of the references, either alone or in combination, discloses or renders obvious the claims 5 and 11-15. Conclusion Any response to this Office Action should be faxed to (571) 273-8300, submitted online via the USPTO's Electronic Filing System-Web (EFS-Web) (Registered eFilers only, Registered users of the USPTO's EFS-Web system may submit a response electronically through EFS-Web at https://efs.uspto.gov/TruePassSample/AuthenticateUserLocalEPF.html), or mailed to: Commissioner for Patents P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Rui Meng Hu whose telephone number is 571-270-1105, email is ruimeng.hu@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., EST. 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, Jinsong Hu can be reached on (571)272-3965. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /Rui Meng Hu/ R.H./rh May 30, 2026 /JINSONG HU/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2643
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 09, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (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
67%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+24.5%)
3y 4m (~1y 4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 603 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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