Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/768,726

STIFFNESS MEASURING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM

Non-Final OA

Filed

Jul 10, 2024

Priority

Jul 12, 2023 — JP 2023-114557

Examiner

WOODWARD, NATHANIEL T

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

Konica Minolta Inc.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +14.4% interview lift. Interview lift (+14.4%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 609 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

WOODWARD, NATHANIEL T View full profile →

Grants 85% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

515 granted / 609 resolved

+24.6% vs TC avg

Moderate +14% lift

Without

With

+14.4%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 3m

Avg Prosecution

16 currently pending

Career history

620

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.1%

-38.9% vs TC avg

§103

79.6%

+39.6% vs TC avg

§102

1.5%

-38.5% vs TC avg

§112

13.5%

-26.5% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 609 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 10, 2024

Application Filed

May 11, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/364,268

Patent 12680889

FORCE DETECTION BASED ON POSITION AND/OR MOVEMENT OF MAGNETICALLY SENSITIVE MATERIAL

2y 11m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/739,355

Patent 12680987

GAS CHROMATOGRAPH

2y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/281,658

Patent 12674695

ULTRASONIC FLOW METER

2y 9m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/055,548

Patent 12656191

FLUID FLOW SENSOR

3y 7m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

18/417,006

Patent 12656171

VIBRATION SENSOR AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

2y 4m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

85%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+14.4%)

2y 3m (~3m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 609 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.