Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/809,330

PULL-DOWN CIRCUIT, PULL-UP CIRCUIT, AND VOLTAGE SUPPLY CIRCUIT INCLUDING PULL-DOWN CIRCUIT AND PULL-UP CIRCUIT

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 20, 2024
Priority
Sep 12, 2023 — RE 10-2023-0121085
Examiner
CHEN, SIBIN
Art Unit
2896
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
SK hynix Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
893 granted / 1031 resolved
+18.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +5% lift
Without
With
+5.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
1046
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
66.6%
+26.6% vs TC avg
§102
28.0%
-12.0% vs TC avg
§112
3.8%
-36.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1031 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Election/Restrictions Claims 11-21 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 4/9/26. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Tian (US 12,034,368). Regarding claim 1, fig. 4 of Tian discloses a pull-up circuit comprising: a sink circuit [433] configured to pull up an output node [NVDD] of a charge pump circuit [430, 434] to a ground voltage [at drain of 433 when enabled], wherein the charge pump circuit generates a charge pump voltage less than the ground voltage [430 is a negative charge pump]; and a level shifter [431, 432] configured to generate a level shifter output voltage [at output of 432] that controls the sink circuit in response to a charge pump enable signal [Enable] controlling the charge pump circuit, and to generate a one-shot signal [at output of 431] that prevents floating of a node through which the level shifter output voltage is output [by enabling 434 to output NVDD to pad 435]. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-10 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. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Nimmo describes a power amplifier stage of a transceiver. Englekirk describes a leakage compensation circuit. Liu describes a controller for RF switches. Guo describes a semiconductor switch with a charge pump and level shifter. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SIBIN CHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5768. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00am - 5:00pm. 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, Taelor Kim can be reached at (571) 270-7166. 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. /SIBIN CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 20, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12671565
DIGITAL QUADRATURE CLOCK FOR LOW JITTER APPLICATIONS
2y 4m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12665503
LOW NOISE CHARGE PUMP CIRCUIT
2y 10m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12665504
Fast Detection and Discharge for Charge Pump Controller
2y 1m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12652024
SUPERCONDUCTING QUANTUM CIRCUIT FOR BOSONIC CODES WITH GALVANIC COUPLING
1y 0m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Patent 12640727
ASYMMETRIC COMMON SOURCE INDUCTANCES TO REDUCE TURN-OFF OVERVOLTAGE IN MOSFETS
2y 1m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
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
87%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+5.2%)
2y 3m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1031 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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