Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/870,331

LIGHT SENSOR, LIGHT DETECTION DEVICE, AND TERAHERTZ/INFRARED FOURIER SPECTROSCOPE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Nov 27, 2024
Priority
May 30, 2022 — JP 2022-087832 +1 more
Examiner
KIM, KIHO
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
National University Corporation Tokyo University Of Agriculture And Technology
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
1436 granted / 1681 resolved
+25.4% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 10m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
1693
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.4%
-37.6% vs TC avg
§103
79.8%
+39.8% vs TC avg
§102
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
§112
9.2%
-30.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1681 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 . Specification The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Independent claims 1, 8, and 11 recites “a high-resistivity”. This “high” resistivity is a relative term. The Specification of the present application fails to disclose how “high” resistivity would be. Because of this reason, the 112(a) and (b) rejection are set forth below. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. 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 – 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention As discussed above. Claims 1 – 13 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. As discussed above. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1 – 13 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) and (b) paragraphs, set forth in this Office action. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: With respect to independent claim 1, the reference cited in PTO-892 teaches a light sensor comprising: a vibration actuator configured to generate vibration on the basis of an input signal; a resonator having a doubly-clamped beam, the doubly-clamped beam being formed in a MEMS structure using a silicon material, being configured to vibrate on the basis of the vibration transmitted by the vibration actuator, and having a resonant frequency that changes in response to input of light; but the prior art of record fails to teach or reasonably suggest: a vibration detector configured to detect vibration of the doubly-clamped beam, wherein the MEMS structure is formed of a high-resistivity silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate (except for a phononic crystal). With respect to independent claims 8 and 11, because of the same allowable subject matter as in claim 1. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIHO KIM, Ph.D. whose telephone number is (571)270-1628. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8-5 EST. 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, David Makiya can be reached at (571)272-2273. 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. KIHO KIM, Ph.D. Primary Examiner Art Unit 2884 /Kiho Kim/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2884
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 27, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (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
85%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+4.3%)
1y 10m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1681 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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