Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 18/880,057

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUPERCONDUCTING WIRE

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Dec 30, 2024
Priority
Jun 22, 2023 — JP 2023-102493 +1 more
Examiner
MAYY, MOHAMMAD
Art Unit
1718
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
48%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 4m
Est. Remaining
72%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 48% of resolved cases
48%
Career Allowance Rate
210 granted / 433 resolved
-16.5% vs TC avg
Strong +23% interview lift
Without
With
+23.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
468
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
63.2%
+23.2% vs TC avg
§102
7.5%
-32.5% vs TC avg
§112
22.3%
-17.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 433 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . DETAILED ACTION Claims 1-5 amended Claims 6-7 new Claims 1-7 pending Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claim(s) 1-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (KR 2021/0064085 A, English translated) in view of Yoshihara (PG Pub 2020/0058419 A1). Consider Claims 1-7, Kim teaches the process of superconductive wire (abstract), using a substrate (10) having main surface and a buffer layer (1) on the main surface of the substrate (figure 1). Kim teaches the width of the substrate is orthogonal to the length of the substrate (figure 2). Kim teaches buffer layer (1) to include; base layer (30) on the substrate (10), IBAN layer (40) on the base layer (30), and surface layer (50) on the IBAN layer (40) (figure 1, [0032]-[0033]). Kim teaches the IBAN layer is made from MgO (constituent material) deposited by electron beam evaporation process (290) onto the substrate (figure 2, [0038]), and where during the deposition of the MgO onto the substrate, an irradiation region of ion beam source (280) is overlapping with the evaporation region of the MgO, while the substrate is transported in a longitude direction (figure 2), as the direction of the ion beam from the ion beam source is applied at an inclined with respect to the main surface of the substrate during transportation process (figure 2). Kim teaches the substrate/wire is transported multiple times (figure 2). Kim teaches the substrate is made from metal/Hastelloy [0036]. Kim teaches the width of the ion beam is wider than the width of the substrate (figure 5a, 6a, [0068, [0072]-[0073]). Kim teaches the longitudinal direction of the ion beam source is along the length direction of the substrate (figures 2). Where it would be obvious for ordinary skilled person in the art to adjust the irradiation direction of the ion beam onto the substrate to be in a longitudinal direction of the ion beam source is along the width direction of the substrate, using routine experimentation and known engineering principles, with reasonable and predictable expectation of success. PNG media_image1.png 784 972 media_image1.png Greyscale Kim does teach the width of the superconductive wire. However, Yoshihara is in the prior art of forming superconductive wire (abstract), teaches the width (W) of the wire is 30 mm [0056]. In the case where the claimed ranges, “overlap or lie inside ranges disclosed by the prior art” a prima facie case of obviousness exists. In re Wertheim, 541 F.2d 257, 191 USPQ 90 (CCPA 1976). (MPEP 2144.05). A person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention would combine Kim with Yoshihara to process a conductive wire having 15 mm width or more, to increase the maximum critical current [0021]. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Mohammad Mayy whose telephone number is (571)272-9983. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 11:00AM-7:00PM 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, Gordon Baldwin can be reached at 571-272-5166. 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. /Mohammad Mayy/ Art Unit 1718 /KELLY M GAMBETTA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1718
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 30, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Oct 12, 2026
Interview Requested
Oct 19, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Oct 19, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

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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
48%
Grant Probability
72%
With Interview (+23.2%)
3y 2m (~1y 4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 433 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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