Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/881,637

Method for Operating an Electric Machine of a Vehicle

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 06, 2025
Priority
Jul 25, 2022 — DE 10 2022 118 552.4 +1 more
Examiner
LI, CE LI
Art Unit
3661
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 4m
Est. Remaining
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allowance Rate
428 granted / 598 resolved
+19.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+14.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
619
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.0%
-30.0% vs TC avg
§103
50.2%
+10.2% vs TC avg
§102
18.2%
-21.8% vs TC avg
§112
16.5%
-23.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 598 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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 § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 13-32 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Suzuki et al. (JP 6194737 B2 - IDS). As to claims 13 and 23, Suzuki discloses a method for operating an electric machine of a vehicle comprising: influencing an electric recuperation signal (para. 0041) of the electric machine in a coasting phase (para. 0045-0046) of the vehicle by an artificially generated electric signal (para. 0042, 0046). As to claims 14 and 24, Suzuki further discloses wherein the artificially generated electric signal causes load fluctuations of the electric machine (para. 0016-0017). As to claims 15 and 25, Suzuki further discloses wherein the artificially generated electric signal is periodic (para. 0016-0017). As to claims 16 and 26, Suzuki further discloses wherein the artificially generated electric signal influences a frequency of the recuperation signal (para. 0016-0017). As to claims 17 and 27, Suzuki further discloses wherein the artificially generated electric signal influences an amplitude of the recuperation signal (para. 0016-0017). As to claims 18 and 28, Suzuki further discloses wherein the artificially generated electric signal is provided by an energy source or an energy sink (para. 0016-0017, 0042-0046). As to claims 19 and 29, Suzuki further discloses wherein the artificially generated electric signal is provided by a control signal (para. 0016-0017, 0042-0046). As to claims 20 and 30, Suzuki further discloses wherein the recuperation signal is influenced as a function of a vehicle speed (para. 0023, 037). As to claims 21 and 31, Suzuki further discloses wherein the recuperation signal is influenced as a function of an operating gradient of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle (para. 0024, 0036-0037). As to claims 22 and 32, Suzuki further discloses wherein the recuperation signal is influenced as a function of a base recuperation level of the electric machine (para. 0042). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Ce Li Li whose telephone number is (571)270-5564. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 10AM-7PM. 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, Peter D Nolan can be reached at 571-270-7016. 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. CE LI . LI Examiner Art Unit 3661 /PETER D NOLAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3661
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 06, 2025
Application Filed
Jul 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12746920
TRAVELING CONTROL APPARATUS
2y 9m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12741642
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2y 1m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12699390
FILTERED PLANNING OF PATH FOR A VEHICLE
3y 8m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12679295
HIERARCHICAL SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE FOR CONTROLLING AN AUTOMATED VEHICLE
1y 10m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12668258
ADAPTIVE THERMAL COOLING MECHANISM APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE PROCESSOR
4y 2m to grant Granted Jun 30, 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
72%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+14.6%)
3y 0m (~1y 4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 598 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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