Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/841,829

ENERGY BEAM DETECTING SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Aug 27, 2024
Examiner
KO, TONY
Art Unit
2878
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Hamamatsu Photonics K K
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 6m
To Grant
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allow Rate
773 granted / 879 resolved
+19.9% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+2.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
16 currently pending
Career history
895
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
§103
26.8%
-13.2% vs TC avg
§102
48.7%
+8.7% vs TC avg
§112
19.1%
-20.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 879 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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 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. Claims 1-8 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. Regarding claim 1, it is unclear how are the following structural – “a temperature Ti of the signal line on the one terminal side”; “a temperature T2 of the signal line on the other terminal side”; “a cooling capacity We of the cooler”; “an impedance Zshof the circuit element”; “a resistance value Rs of the detection element in a case where the detection element does not detect the energy ray, a resistance value Rn of the detection element in a case where the detection element detects the energy ray, and a current lb flowing through the detection element in a case where the detection element does not detect the energy ray” It is also unclear how are these variables relate to the associated structural limitations. Claim 1 further recites “and is smaller than a value calculated based on a noise allowable voltage VN in the amplifier”. It is unclear what is smaller than a value calculated based on a noise allowable voltage VN. Clarification is required. Claims 2-8 are rejected because of their dependency upon rejected claim 1. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US Patent 11204431 is in related field of invention. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TONY KO whose telephone number is (571)272-1926. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9-5 pm. 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, Georgia Epps can be reached at 571-272-2328. 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. /TONY KO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2878 TK
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 27, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12596178
SENSOR ASSEMBLY
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12591179
Metrology Apparatus
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12581199
DETECTION DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12571919
OVERHEAD-STRUCTURE RECOGNITION DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12569853
MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS CARTRIDGE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 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
88%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+2.3%)
2y 6m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 879 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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