Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/833,167

AN APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jul 25, 2024
Priority
Feb 01, 2022 — GB 2201275.1 +1 more
Examiner
WONG, TINA MEI SENG
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Duality Quantum Photonics Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
921 granted / 1093 resolved
+24.3% 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

Office Action

§112
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 . Priority Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted by the International Bureau under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file. Claim Objections Claims 6-7, 10-14, 19-24 and 28 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claims 6-7, 10-14, 19-24 and 28 are objected to under 37 CFR 1.75(c) as being in improper form because a multiple dependent claims. See MPEP § 608.01(n). Accordingly, the claims 6-7, 10-14, 19-24 and 28 not been further treated on the merits. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d): (d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph: Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. Claims 6-7, 10-14, 19-24 and 28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claims 6-7, 10-14, 19-24 and 28 are an improper form because it depends from another multiple dependent claim. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-2, 8-9, 15-18 and 25-27 are allowed. The prior art of record fails to disclose or reasonably suggest an apparatus including a photonic physically unclonable function device for processing an initial optical mode distribution including optical mode waveguides, optical mode mixing layers, columns of optical phase shifters, a security controller and a computer readable storage as structurally and functionally recited in the claim language in addition to the accompanying features of the independent claims. References Cited The references cited made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. None of the documents cited by the Examiner discloses or reasonably suggests the allowable subject matter discussed above. The documents submitted by applicant in the Information Disclosure Statement have been considered and made of record. Note attached copy of form PTO-1449. None of the references submitted by Applicant discloses or reasonably suggest the allowable subject matter discussed above. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TINA M WONG whose telephone number is (571)272-2352. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:30. 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, Uyen-Chau Le can be reached at (571) 272-2397. 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. /TINA WONG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874
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Prosecution Timeline

Jul 25, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12681237
OPTICAL CONNECTOR AND OPTICAL CONNECTION STRUCTURE
3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12674933
LOW-LOSS WAVEGUIDE WITH UNDERCUT
4y 6m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12669643
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH WAVEGUIDE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
3y 4m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12663665
Compact Optical Phase Shifter
2y 10m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
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.

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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.

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