Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 18, 2026
Application No. 18/836,329

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CENTRAL FREQUENCY TUNING

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Aug 06, 2024
Priority
Feb 18, 2022 — provisional 63/311,920 +2 more
Examiner
SATHIRAJU, SRINIVAS
Art Unit
2844
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Lam Research Corporation
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
735 granted / 827 resolved
+20.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
39 currently pending
Career history
851
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.5%
-36.5% vs TC avg
§103
46.5%
+6.5% vs TC avg
§102
17.8%
-22.2% vs TC avg
§112
15.9%
-24.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 827 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
CTFR 18/836,329 CTFR 89996 NOTICE OF FINAL REJECTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Response to Arguments Applicant has changed the scope of the independent claims 1, 8, 15 by amending the claims. However, the amended portion is rejected on indefiniteness. Applicant' s arguments with respect to claims 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. 07-34-01 Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. 07-34-03 AIA The term “ greater than one ” in claim “ greater than one” is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “ greater than one ” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. Referring to claim 1 the predetermined number of plurality of bins is greater than one. It is an open ended limitation. How greater beyond 1 is not defined which makes the claim indefinite. However, paragraphs [0040] and [0055] is it is defined predetermined bins are 10 or 20. However, the amended claim the predetermined number of the plurality of bins is greater than one makes the limitation indefinite . Same arguments apply on other independent claims 8, 15 and they are also rejected under indefiniteness. Hence, claims 1, 8, 15 and depending claims are also rejected. Conclusion Claims 1-20 are rejected. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SRINIVAS SATHIRAJU whose telephone number is (571)272-4250. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30AM-3:30PM, 5PM -8:30PM. 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, ALEXANDER H TANINGCO can be reached at 5712728048. 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. /SRINIVAS SATHIRAJU/ 06/02/2026 SRINIVAS . SATHIRAJU Primary Examiner Art Unit 2845 Application/Control Number: 18/836,329 Page 2 Art Unit: 2845
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 06, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 18, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 18, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Apr 18, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
May 13, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 02, 2026
Examiner Interview (Telephonic)
Jun 05, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 03, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12698878
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2y 6m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12700571
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Patent 12701649
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2y 4m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
89%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+6.1%)
2y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 827 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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