Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/784,541

EDGE COUPLERS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

Non-Final OA

Filed

Jul 25, 2024

Priority

Aug 30, 2021 — divisional of 11/796,739 +1 more

Examiner

WONG, TINA MEI SENG

Art Unit

2874

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +14.3% interview lift. Interview lift (+14.3%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 1093 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

WONG, TINA MEI SENG View full profile →

Grants 84% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

921 granted / 1093 resolved

+16.3% vs TC avg

Moderate +14% lift

Without

With

+14.3%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 3m

Avg Prosecution

21 currently pending

Career history

1130

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.4%

-39.6% vs TC avg

§103

90.3%

+50.3% vs TC avg

§102

3.9%

-36.1% vs TC avg

§112

1.6%

-38.4% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1093 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 25, 2024

Application Filed

Jun 05, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/038,263

Patent 12681237

OPTICAL CONNECTOR AND OPTICAL CONNECTION STRUCTURE

3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/561,683

Patent 12674933

LOW-LOSS WAVEGUIDE WITH UNDERCUT

4y 6m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/172,907

Patent 12669643

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH WAVEGUIDE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

3y 4m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/230,098

Patent 12663665

Compact Optical Phase Shifter

2y 10m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/284,270

Patent 12663582

OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE ELEMENT, AND OPTICAL MODULATION DEVICE AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE WHICH USE SAME

2y 9m 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

84%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+14.3%)

2y 3m (~3m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 1093 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.