Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 16, 2026
Application No. 18/835,434

FIXATION STRUCTURE, AND ELECTRONIC UNIT

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 02, 2024
Priority
Mar 31, 2022 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2022016590
Examiner
MUSLEH, MOHAMAD A
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
TDK Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
556 granted / 707 resolved
+18.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
715
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.7%
-38.3% vs TC avg
§103
35.5%
-4.5% vs TC avg
§102
43.1%
+3.1% vs TC avg
§112
16.7%
-23.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 707 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 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 1-2 | 4-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by YUKI et al. WO 2020017082 A1 [YUKI]. Regarding claims 1 | 6, YUKI teaches A fixation structure comprising: a structure [parts 7a, 7b and support parts 81a-81d]; a first magnetic component [see core 2a] and a second magnetic component [see core 2b] fixed to the structure [parts 7a, 7b and support parts 81a-81d, fig. 2] and facing each other in a first direction [2a and 2b face each other, figs. 1-2]; and a spacer member [see insulating spacer 5] disposed between the first magnetic component [2a] and the second magnetic component [2b, fig. 2], wherein the spacer member [5] and the structure [parts 7a, 7b and support parts 81a-81d] are spaced away from each other [figs. 1-2]. An electronic unit comprising the fixation structure [under TECHNICAL-FIELD, it teaches that The present invention relates to a transformer [10], a power converter unit using the transformer, and a power converter]. Regarding claim 2, YUKI teaches The fixation structure according to claim 1, further comprising a first positioning mechanism [6b2 | 6b3 | 6a2 | 6a3] configured to position the spacer member [5] with respect to the structure [parts 7a, 7b and support parts 81a-81d] in a direction orthogonal to the first direction [when viewed from left to right or right to left, fig, 2]. Regarding claim 4, YUKI teaches The fixation structure according to claim 2, further comprising a second positioning mechanism [bobbin supporting unit. 4a1, 4a2, 4b1, 4b2] configured to position another component other than the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component and the spacer member [bobbin supporting unit. 4a1, 4a2, 4b1, 4b2, fig. 2]. Regarding claim 5, YUKI teaches The fixation structure according to claim 1, wherein the structure includes a second projecting portion [if 81a is the first one, 81b or 81c or d would be the second one] projecting in the first direction toward the spacer member [5], and a gap between the spacer member [5] and the structure is formed between the second projecting portion [if 81a is the first one, 81b or 81c or d would be the second one] and the spacer member [5, figs. 1-2]. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 3 is 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. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior arts of record when considered as a whole, alone or in combination neither anticipates nor renders obvious the combination of - Claim 3: the first positioning mechanism includes: a first projecting portion formed on one of the spacer member and the structure and extending in the first direction; and an insertion portion formed on the other of the spacer member and the structure and for inserting the first projecting portion in the insertion portion. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See (PTO-892). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMAD A MUSLEH whose telephone number is ((571)272-9086. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 10 am - 7 pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shawki S. Ismail can be reached on 571 272 3985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /Mohamad A Musleh/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 02, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 29, 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
79%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+9.7%)
2y 5m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 707 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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