Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/876,007

ILLUMINATION ADJUSTMENT APPARATUSES AND LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUSES

Non-Final OA

Filed

Dec 17, 2024

Priority

Sep 15, 2022 — provisional 63/406,992 +1 more

Examiner

RIDDLE, CHRISTINA A

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

ASML Holding N.V.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +13.8% interview lift. Interview lift (+13.8%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 926 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

RIDDLE, CHRISTINA A View full profile →

Grants 81% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

748 granted / 926 resolved

+20.8% vs TC avg

Moderate +14% lift

Without

With

+13.8%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 11m

Avg Prosecution

34 currently pending

Career history

969

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.1%

-38.9% vs TC avg

§103

81.0%

+41.0% vs TC avg

§102

4.4%

-35.6% vs TC avg

§112

10.0%

-30.0% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 926 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 17, 2024

Application Filed

May 18, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/602,629

Patent 12669758

OPTICAL ELEMENT WITH COOLING CHANNELS, AND OPTICAL ARRANGEMENT

2y 3m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/630,770

Patent 12669753

EUV MULTI-MIRROR ARRANGEMENT

2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/704,532

Patent 12663725

METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO CALIBRATE RETICLE THERMAL EFFECTS

2y 1m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/512,298

Patent 12656690

OPTICAL APPARATUS, METHOD FOR SETTING A TARGET DEFORMATION, AND LITHOGRAPHY SYSTEM

2y 7m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

18/684,894

Patent 12656689

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORMING TOPOLOGICAL LATTICES OF PLASMONIC MERONS

2y 3m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

81%

Grant Probability

95%

With Interview (+13.8%)

2y 11m (~1y 4m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 926 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.