Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/797,290

METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ACOUSTO-OPTIC DEVICE BEAM DISPLACEMENT AND ANGLE COMPENSATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 07, 2024
Priority
Aug 10, 2023 — provisional 63/518,748
Examiner
TRA, TUYEN Q
Art Unit
2484
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Ionq Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
877 granted / 1020 resolved
+28.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
1035
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
70.3%
+30.3% vs TC avg
§102
16.7%
-23.3% vs TC avg
§112
7.7%
-32.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1020 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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. Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(a) as being anticipated by Riza (US 5,274,381). Regarding claim 1, Riza discloses a method of angle and displacement compensation, in figure 2, comprising: emitting, toward a deflector plate (140), a source beam; deflecting the source beam (b), via the deflector plate (140), to generate a deflected source beam (b+1) toward an acousto-optic deflector (AOD)(142); and diffracting, via the AOD (142), the deflected source beam (b+1) to generate at least one diffracted beam (b-1) that is substantially collinear with the source beam (b)(figure 2). Regarding claim 2, Rita discloses the method of claim 1, wherein: deflecting the source beam (b) comprises generating the deflected source beam (b+1) at a first angle; and diffracting the deflected source beam comprises generating the at least one diffracted beam (b-1) at a second angle identical to the first angle (figure 2). Regarding claim 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first line associated with the source beam and a second line associated with the at least one diffracted beam are parallel and non-overlapping. Regarding claim 4, Riza discloses an acousto-optic deflector (AOD) system, in figure 2, comprising: a light source (132)(figure 2) configured to provide a source beam toward a deflector plate (140); the deflector plate (140) configured to deflect the source beam to generate a deflected source beam toward an AOD (142); and the AOD (142) configured to diffract the deflected source beam to generate at least one diffracted beam (b-1), wherein source beam (b) and the at least one diffracted beam (b-1) are substantially collinear (see figure 2)1. Regarding claim 5, Riza discloses the AOD system of claim 4, wherein: the deflector plate (140) is further configured to generate the deflected source beam (b) at a first angle (b+1); and the AOD (142) is further configured to generate the at least one diffracted beam (b-1) at a second angle identical to the first angle (figure 2). Regarding claim 6, Riza discloses the AOD system of claim 4, wherein a first line (a line parallel to b) associated with the source beam (b) and a second line (a line parallel to b-1) associated with the at least one diffracted beam (b+1) are parallel and non-overlapping (figure 2). Claims 7-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(a) as being anticipated by Kotler et al. (US 20220121082 hereafter Kotler). Regarding claim 13, Kotler discloses acousto-optic deflector (AOD) system, in figure 1, comprising: a light source (22) configured to emit, toward a first deflector plate (24), a source beam; the first deflector plate (24) configured to deflect the source beam to generate a deflected source beam toward an diffractive element; the diffractive element (30) configured to diffract the deflected source beam (from deflector 24) to generate at least one diffracted beam toward a second deflector plate (44); and the second deflector plate (44) configured to deflect the at least one diffracted beam to generate a deflected diffraction light that is substantially collinear with the source beam (par.[0036]) (Kotler discloses diffractive element (30) instead of AOD. However, AOD and diffractive element (30) have the same functionality in the claim which is to diffract said deflected light from said first deflector). Regarding claim 14, Kotler discloses the AOD system of claim 13, wherein a first line associated with the source beam and a second line associated with the deflected diffraction light are overlapping (see figure 1). Regarding claims 15 and 16, Kotler discloses the AOD system of claim 13, wherein the first deflector plate (24) is further configured to tilt (it is angled to the source beam); wherein the first deflector plate is further configured to tilt between −90° and 90° (figure 1). Regarding claims 17 and 18, Kotler discloses the AOD system of claim 13, wherein the second deflector plate is further configured to tilt ((it is perpendicular 90o to the source beam); wherein the second deflector plate is further configured to tilt between −90° and 90° (figure 1). Regarding claim 7, Kotler discloses apparatus and method thereof, in figure 1, comprising: providing a diffractive element (30); emitting, toward a first deflector plate (24), a source beam; deflecting the source beam, via the first deflector plate (24), to generate a deflected source beam toward the diffractive element (30); diffracting, via the diffractive element (30), the deflected source beam to generate at least one diffracted beam, toward a second deflector plate (44); and deflecting the at least one diffracted beam, via the second deflector plate (44), to generate a deflected diffraction light that is substantially collinear with the source beam (par.[0036]) (Kotler discloses diffractive element (30) instead of AOD. However, AOD and diffractive element (30) have the same functionality in the claim which is to diffract said deflected light from said first deflector). Regarding claim 8, Kotler discloses the AOD system of claim 7, wherein a first line associated with the source beam and a second line associated with the deflected diffraction light are overlapping (see figure 1). Regarding claims 9 and 10, Kotler discloses the AOD system of claim 7, wherein the first deflector plate (24) is further configured to tilt (it is angled to the source beam); wherein the first deflector plate is further configured to tilt between −90° and 90° (figure 1). Regarding claims 11 and 12, Kotler discloses the AOD system of claim 7, wherein the second deflector plate is further configured to tilt ((it is perpendicular 90o to the source beam); wherein the second deflector plate is further configured to tilt between −90° and 90° (figure 1). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TUYEN TRA whose telephone number is (571)272-2343. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10-6. 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, Bumsuk Won can be reached at 571-272-2713. 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. /TUYEN TRA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 07, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
86%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+10.3%)
2y 3m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1020 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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