Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/881,598

METHOD AND CHARGING SYSTEM FOR EXCHANGING AN ELECTRIC CHARGING QUANTITY BETWEEN AT LEAST ONE ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND AT LEAST ONE ENERGY SUPPLY DEVICE VIA A CHARGING DEVICE

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 06, 2025
Examiner
BUKHARI, AQEEL H
Art Unit
2849
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Magna International Europe GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allow Rate
539 granted / 630 resolved
+17.6% vs TC avg
Strong +15% interview lift
Without
With
+15.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
668
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
43.1%
+3.1% vs TC avg
§102
35.4%
-4.6% vs TC avg
§112
12.4%
-27.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 630 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 § 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. Claim(s) 1-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Coburn et al. (US 2019/001833 A1) further in view of Kaplan et al. (US 2008/0052145 A1). Re Claim 1: Coburn teaches a method for exchanging an amount of electrical charge between at least one electric vehicle and at least one power supply device via a charging device (see 10a, 10b, 133, 1331a/1331b, 1332, 1334, figs 1, 3-4 para 0017-0020, 0035-0043); wherein, in a connection step, the electric vehicle is electrically conductively connected to the power supply device via the charging device (see 1332a/1332b, 13344 figs.1, 3-4 para 0039-0040); wherein, in a subsequent selection step, an assignment selection of the electric vehicle to the power supply device is provided to a user of the electric vehicle (see 601, 605, 606, 602-604 figs.6 para 0048-0049); and wherein the amount of electrical charge to be exchanged between the electric vehicle and the power supply device is specified according to the assignment selection of the user of the charging device (see the charging request fig.4, 5 para 0035-0038, 0041-0043; the amount is tied to the users selection and negotiation). and wherein, in a subsequent charging step, the amount of electrical charge is exchanged between the electric vehicle and the power supply device via the charging device (see 1331a/1331b, 1334 figs.3-4 para 0037-0038, 0043). Coburn doesn’t expressly teach by a control device which is connected to the charging device via a communication channel. In an analogous art Kaplan teaches by a control device which is connected to the charging device via a communication channel (see 102, 106, 134, 201, bridges 120, 206, figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 para 0034, 0043, 0077-0083, 0088-0096, 0100-0103, Bridges disclose the central control/flow control server (control device) communication over inter/powerline to remote IPF modules in elec. resources at the charging point; that controls issues charging/discharging instructions over the communication channel to the device connect the vehicle and grid). Therefore it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skilled in the at the time inventio was claimed to use the remote control device architecture and communication channel of Kaplan in the system of Coburn to specify and manage charging/discharging parameters through control device communicating with charging device to enable centralized, network based control and improve coordination of multiple distributed electrical vehicles. Re Claim 2: Combination of Coburn and Kaplan teaches invention set forth above, Coburn further teaches wherein another electric vehicle is used for the power supply device (see 10a, 10b, 1331a/1331b, 1332a, 1332b, 1334, figs 1, 4: para 0017-0020, 0035-0043, method 200/500 figs.2, 5). Re Claim 3: Combination of Coburn and Kaplan teaches invention set forth above, Coburn further teaches wherein a stationary power source is used for the power supply device (see 602, 603, 604, 601 610, fig.6 para 0045-0048). Re Claim 4: Combination of Coburn and Kaplan teaches invention set forth above, Kaplan further teaches wherein a radio link is used for the communication channel which connects the charging device and the control device, such that the at least one electric vehicle and the at least one power supply device can be spaced apart from one another at a distance (see 102, 106, 104, bridges 120, 134, wireless link alternative, figs. 1-3, 7, 8 para 0043-0051, 0077-0083, 0119-0162). Re Claim 5: Combination of Coburn and Kaplan teaches invention set forth above, Coburn further teaches a charging system for exchanging an amount of electrical charge, having at least one electric vehicle, at least one power supply device and at least one charging device, such that the electric vehicle can be electrically conductively connected to the power supply device via the charging device, characterized in that the charging system can be operated by a method as claimed in claim 1 (see 10a, 10b, 1332, 1334, 602-604, 100 figs.1, 2, 4, 6: para 0017-0020, 0039-0043, 0045-0048). Re Claim 6: Combination of Coburn and Kaplan teaches invention set forth above, Kaplan further teaches wherein a radio link is used for the communication channel which connects the charging device and the control device, such that the at least one electric vehicle and the at least one power supply device can be spaced apart from one another at a distance (see 102, 106, 104, bridges 120, 134, wireless option figs. 1-3, 7, 8 para 0043-0051, 0077-0083, 0119-0162). Re Claim 7: Combination of Coburn and Kaplan teaches invention set forth above, Kaplan further teaches wherein a radio link is used for the communication channel which connects the charging device and the control device, such that the at least one electric vehicle and the at least one power supply device can be spaced apart from one another at a distance (see 102, 134, 124, 126 figs 1-4, 7, 8 para 0043-0052, 0077-0083, 0119-0162). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Aqeel H Bukhari whose telephone number is (571)272-4382. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (9am to 5pm). 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, Rexford Barnie can be reached at 571-2727492. 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. /AQEEL H BUKHARI/Examiner, Art Unit 2836 /REXFORD N BARNIE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2836
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 06, 2025
Application Filed
Nov 29, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12603496
A POWER SOURCE ASSEMBLY
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12567608
SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AND MANAGEMENT METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Patent 12539768
ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLYING MODULE
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 03, 2026
Patent 12533992
ELECTRIC VEHICLE, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
2y 5m to grant Granted Jan 27, 2026
Patent 12522076
ELECTRIC VEHICLE
2y 5m to grant Granted Jan 13, 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
86%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+15.3%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 630 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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