Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/783,967

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING PHOTORESIST OVER A SUBSTRATE

Non-Final OA

Filed

Jul 25, 2024

Priority

May 14, 2021 — provisional 63/189,024 +1 more

Examiner

CHIN, EDWARD

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +6.9% interview lift. Interview lift (+6.9%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 687 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

CHIN, EDWARD View full profile →

Grants 87% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

598 granted / 687 resolved

+27.0% vs TC avg

Moderate +7% lift

Without

With

+6.9%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 5m

Avg Prosecution

25 currently pending

Career history

704

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.1%

-39.9% vs TC avg

§103

80.1%

+40.1% vs TC avg

§102

17.2%

-22.8% vs TC avg

§112

1.9%

-38.1% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 687 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 25, 2024

Application Filed

May 14, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/278,180

Patent 12683132

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

2y 10m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/955,955

Patent 12677430

SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND FORMING METHOD THEREOF

3y 9m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

19/274,412

Patent 12672308

THIN-FILM TRANSISTORS WITH GATE-SOURCE CAPACITANCE TUNING

11m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/163,135

Patent 12666588

SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR FORMING SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE

3y 4m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/204,575

Patent 12666826

DISPLAY PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE

3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 23, 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

87%

Grant Probability

94%

With Interview (+6.9%)

2y 5m (~5m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 687 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.