Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/881,720

RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG ANTENNA FOR METALLIC OBJECTS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 06, 2025
Priority
Jul 27, 2022 — SG 10202250603J +1 more
Examiner
TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
Art Unit
2876
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Nanyang Technological University
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
553 granted / 702 resolved
+10.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
725
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.1%
-34.9% vs TC avg
§103
32.9%
-7.1% vs TC avg
§102
29.3%
-10.7% vs TC avg
§112
13.5%
-26.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 702 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . This office action is responsive to the application filed 01/06/2025 which claims 1-12 have been presented for examination. The preliminary amendment filed 01/06/2025 is acknowledged. Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/06/2025 has been considered by the examiner. Claim Objections Claims 1-12 are objected to because of the following informalities: in claim 1, substitute “An RFID tag antenna” with – A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna – (see line 1). in claim 5, substitute “meander structure” with – T-match structure – (see line 2). Appropriate correction is required. Claims 2-4 and 6-12 are objected to since it depends from an objected claim. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. Claim(s) 1-8, 10, and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Davis (US 2018/0069291), cited by the applicants. Re claim 1, Davis discloses a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna, comprising: a dielectric substrate (30) having a first surface (32) and a second surface (34) opposing the first surface; a conductive layer provided on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, the conductive layer being configured to be attached to a surface of a metallic object (paras. 0050, 0056); an integrated circuit (42) mounted on the second surface of the dielectric substrate (figs. 5 and 6; para. 0051); an antenna structure (4) formed on the second surface of the dielectric substrate (fig 1; para. 0039); a T-match structure (20) formed on the second surface of the dielectric substrate, the T-match structure electrically coupling the antenna structure to the integrated circuit (fig 1; para. 0045); a first via pin (38) passing through the dielectric substrate and electrically connecting a first point on the antenna structure with a corresponding first point on the conductive layer (fig 1; para. 0050); and a second via pin (40) passing through the dielectric substrate and electrically connecting a second point on the antenna structure with a corresponding second point on the conductive layer (fig 1; para. 0050). Re claim 2, Davis further discloses wherein the dielectric substrate is formed from a flexible material (para. 0049 describes that a variety of dielectric substrates made of various materials may be used). Re claim 3, Davis further discloses wherein the T-match structure is configured to conjugate match an impedance of the antenna structure with an impedance of the integrated circuit (para. 0045). Re claim 4, Davis further discloses wherein the T-match structure is formed in a meander pattern (fig 1; para. 0045). Re claim 5, Davis further discloses wherein a length of the T-match structure is selected to conjugate match the impedance of the antenna structure with the impedance of the integrated circuit (para. 0045). Re claim 6, Davis further discloses wherein the antenna structure comprises two antenna parts arranged in a dipole structure (fig 1; paras. 0039-0040, 0046-0048). Re claim 7, Davis further discloses wherein each antenna part comprises a first leg portion and a second leg portion (fig. 1). Re claim 8, Davis further discloses wherein a resonant length of each antenna part corresponds to a length from an end of the first leg portion to an end of the second leg portion (fig. 1). Re claim 10, Davis further discloses wherein the second leg portion of each antenna part has a meander structure (fig. 1). Re claim 11, Davis further discloses wherein the dielectric substrate is rectangular (fig. 1; para. 0049). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 9 and 12 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art of record, taken alone or in combination, fails to teach wherein the end of the first leg portion of a first antenna part corresponds to the first point on the antenna structure and the end of the first leg portion of a second antenna part corresponds to the second point on the antenna structure (as recited in claim 9); and wherein the first point on the antenna structure and the second point on the antenna structure correspond to diagonally opposite corners of the dielectric substrate (as recited in claim 12). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See attached PTO-892 form. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to APRIL A TAYLOR whose telephone number is (571)272-2403. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday between 9am-6pm. 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, STEVEN S PAIK can be reached at 571-272-2404. 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. /APRIL A TAYLOR/Examiner, Art Unit 2876 /THIEN M LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 06, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
79%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+8.6%)
2y 6m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 702 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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