Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/881,876

Power Line Assembly and Motor Vehicle

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 07, 2025
Priority
Aug 29, 2022 — DE 10 2022 121 731.0 +1 more
Examiner
BUKHARI, AQEEL H
Art Unit
2849
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
547 granted / 639 resolved
+17.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
671
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
65.6%
+25.6% vs TC avg
§102
28.1%
-11.9% vs TC avg
§112
2.5%
-37.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 639 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) 6-8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Weber et al (US 20140197792 A1) in view of Wimmer (US 2020/0127426 A1). Re Claim 6: Weber teaches A conductor assembly for conducting electric current from a charging socket of a motor vehicle to an energy storage device of the motor vehicle, the conductor assembly comprising (see sockets, AC/DC lines Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 para 0003, 0008, 0024, 0041, 0070-0073): a direct current line comprising two individual direct current conductors configured to conduct a direct current from a direct current interface of the charging socket to the energy storage device (see Figs.1, 5 para 0008, 0024, 0070, 0079); and an alternating current line comprising a plurality of individual alternating current conductors configured to conduct an alternating current from an alternating current interface of the charging socket to the energy storage device (see figs. 2, 3, 5 para 0003,0 0075, 0085);, Weber doesn’t expressly teach wherein each of the individual direct current conductors comprises a profiled aluminum section by way of an electrical conductor for conducting the direct current. In an analogous art Wimmer teaches wherein each of the individual direct current conductors comprises a profiled aluminum section by way of an electrical conductor for conducting the direct current (see flat conductor rails 2, 3 fig.1 of aluminum para 0005, 0008, 0031). Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skilled in the art at the time invention was claimed to replace a wires-based conductors of the Weber with the bus bar configuration of Wimmer to improve thermal and mechanical stability in high current automotive power delivery system. Re Claim 7: Combination of Weber and Wimmer teaches invention set forth above, Wimmer further teaches wherein the profiled aluminum sections of the individual direct current conductors are configured in a mutually parallel arrangement (see fig.3, 5 para 0024). Re Claim 8: Combination of Weber and Wimmer teaches invention set forth above, Wimmer further teaches wherein the profiled aluminum sections are flat profiled sections (see fig.3, 5 para 0024). Re Claim 10: Combination of Weber and Wimmer teaches invention set forth above, Webber further teaches a motor vehicle comprising, a charging socket; an energy storage device; and the conductor assembly according to claim 6 (see fig. 1, 3 para 0024, 0041). Claim(s) 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Weber et al (US 20140197792 A1) in view of Wimmer (US 20200127426 A1) further in view of Remisch et al. (US 2018/0277283 A1). Re Claim 9: Combination of Weber and Wimmer teaches invention set forth above, Combination doesn’t expressly teach comprising: a heat-absorbing paste arranged between the individual direct current conductor. In an analogous art Remisch teaches a heat-absorbing paste arranged between the individual direct current conductors (see heat transfer layers para 0006, 00009, 0014). Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skilled in the art at the time invention was claimed to use heat absorbing layer of the Remisch in the invention of Weber and Wimmer to improve thermal management of the high current conductors in vehicle charging systems. 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 /DANIEL CAVALLARI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 07, 2025
Application Filed
Jan 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12640580
COUPLING AIRCRAFT ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY TO LOAD
2y 4m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12633861
POWER SUPPLY CONTROL DEVICE AND POWER SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12633822
ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM
2y 3m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12630028
POWER CONVERSION DEVICE
2y 3m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12617304
INTEGRATED CONTROLLER, ELECTRIC DRIVE ASSEMBLY, AND VEHICLE
2y 5m to grant Granted May 05, 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 (+14.2%)
2y 6m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 639 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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