Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 12, 2026
Application No. 18/898,537

APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF A SAFETY-BASED MULTI-ACTUATOR DRIVER FOR A MOBILE ROBOT

Unknown §103
Filed
3600
Examiner
JEN, MINGJEN
Art Unit
3657
Tech Center
INTEL CORPORATION
Assignee
Intel Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
Filing → Grant
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
593 granted / 741 resolved
+20.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+13.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
765
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
65.1%
+25.1% vs TC avg
§102
23.5%
-16.5% vs TC avg
§112
6.5%
-33.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 741 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
CTNF 18/898,537 CTNF 83888 DETAILED ACTION Foreign Priority 02-26 AIA Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Objections Claims 2 and 19 misspell “drivers” as “derivers”. Appropriate further clarification is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-23-aia AIA 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. 07-21-aia AIA Claim 1-2, 9 and 18-19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Frye et al (US Pat Pub No.2024/0218640) in view of Kueperkoch et al (US Pat Pub No. 20040162650) . Claim 1: Frye et al discloses an apparatus for a mobile robot (See at least Para 0328 and 0329 for robot 1410 with drive wheels 1416 with control unit 1246) comprising: a safety-based multi-actuator driver configured to drive a plurality of actuators of a plurality of wheels of the mobile robot (See at least Para 0334 for anomaly malfunction detection as safety based for drive wheels with propulsion motor/actuator on Para 0328), the safety-based multi-actuator s comprising: safety information of the mobile robot (See at least Para 0334 for anomaly malfunction detection as safety information for the robot), a plurality of driver outputs to provide a plurality of actuator-drive outputs to drive the plurality of actuators (See at least Para 0333 for processor actuate propulsion feature of robot via wheels 1416 with battery to power robot motor on Para 0329); a controller to control the plurality of actuator-drive outputs (See at least Para 0306 and 0307 for main control unit for controls motor within robot based on the information with detected anomaly with stopping moving on Para 0328) for a controlled safety-stop of the mobile robot based on a sensor-based event identified based on the safety-sensor information (See at least Para 0328 for control unit 1246 controls motor within robot based on the information with detected anomaly with stopping moving), to configure the plurality of actuator-drive outputs for the controlled safety-stop based on an actuator malfunction event identified based on the actuator monitoring information (See at least Para 0306 and 0307 for main control unit for controls motor within robot based on the information with detected anomaly with stopping moving on Para 0328); however, Frye et al discussed safety information implementation upon robot apparatus yet does not further discuss safety sensor apparatus structure schematic internal within the robot safety system of Frye et al for safety-sensor input to receive safety-sensor information from safety sensor; a plurality of monitoring inputs to receive actuator monitoring information corresponding to a functionality of the plurality of actuators. Kueperkoch et al further shows safety-sensor input to receive safety-sensor information from safety sensor (See at least Para 0027 for fault detection module 50 with sensor 14 input Y on figure 3); a plurality of monitoring inputs to receive actuator monitoring information corresponding to a functionality of the plurality of actuators (See at least Para 0039 for and gate 161 with plurality of monitored input for actuator function determination). It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, to provide safety sensor apparatus implementation of Kueperkoch, for the mobile robot safety information operation of Frye at the time of filing, for providing a safety information processing mechanism as desired by Frye and taught by Kueperkoch, as known prior art element provided to known safety information operation method of Frye, in order to yield predictable results. Claim 2: Frye et al discloses a plurality of actuator drivers, the controller is to control the plurality of actuator derivers to provide the plurality of actuator-drive outputs, respectively (See at least para 0329 where one or more internal motors with one or more drive wheels). Claim 9: Frye et al shows a power input to receive power from a power source (See at least Para 0177 for power controller 508 as power input with outlet plug for robot receiving power from power outlet); an internal power storage connected in parallel to the power input (See at least Para 0177 for charging batteries with wireless copper coil in parallel), the internal power storage to store an amount of power sufficient to provide the actuator drive outputs during the controlled safety stop (See at least Para 0329 for battery provides sufficient voltage power the robot during operation including safety stop). Claim 18: Frye et al discloses a mobile robot (see at least Para 0328 robot 1410) comprising: a plurality of wheels (See at least Para 0329 for wheel); a plurality of actuators to rotate the plurality of wheels; (see at least para 0329 robot 1410 with drive wheels 1416 with control unit 1246), a safety-based multi-actuator driver configured to drive a plurality of actuators of a plurality of wheels of the mobile robot (See at least Para 0334 for anomaly malfunction detection as safety based for drive wheels with propulsion motor/actuator on Para 0328), the safety-based multi-actuator s comprising: safety information of the mobile robot (See at least Para 0334 for anomaly malfunction detection as safety information for the robot), a plurality of driver outputs to provide a plurality of actuator-drive outputs to drive the plurality of actuators (See at least Para 0333 for processor actuate propulsion feature of robot via wheels 1416 with battery to power robot motor on Para 0329); a controller to control the plurality of actuator-drive outputs (See at least Para 0306 and 0307 for main control unit for controls motor within robot based on the information with detected anomaly with stopping moving on Para 0328) for a controlled safety-stop of the mobile robot based on a sensor-based event identified based on the safety-sensor information (See at least Para 0328 for control unit 1246 controls motor within robot based on the information with detected anomaly with stopping moving), to configure the plurality of actuator-drive outputs for the controlled safety-stop based on an actuator malfunction event identified based on the actuator monitoring information (See at least Para 0306 and 0307 for main control unit for controls motor within robot based on the information with detected anomaly with stopping moving on Para 0328); however, Frye et al discussed safety information implementation upon robot apparatus yet does not further discuss safety sensor apparatus structure schematic internal within the robot safety system of Frye et al for safety-sensor input to receive safety-sensor information from safety sensor; a plurality of monitoring inputs to receive actuator monitoring information corresponding to a functionality of the plurality of actuators. Kueperkoch et al further shows safety-sensor input to receive safety-sensor information from safety sensor (See at least Para 0027 for fault detection module 50 with sensor 14 input Y on figure 3); a plurality of monitoring inputs to receive actuator monitoring information corresponding to a functionality of the plurality of actuators (See at least Para 0039 for and gate 161 with plurality of monitored input for actuator function determination). It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, to provide safety sensor apparatus implementation of Kueperkoch, for the mobile robot safety information operation of Frye at the time of filing, for providing a safety information processing mechanism as desired by Frye and taught by Kueperkoch, as known prior art element provided to known safety information operation method of Frye, in order to yield predictable results. Claim 19: Frye et al discloses wherein the safety based multiactuator driver comprises a plurality of actuator drivers (detection as safety based for drive wheels with propulsion motor/actuator on Para 0328), the controller is to control the plurality of actuator derivers (See at least Para 0306 and 0307 for main control unit for controls motor within robot based on the information with detected anomaly with stopping moving on Para 0328) to provide the plurality of actuator-drive outputs respectively (See at least para 0329 where one or more internal motors with one or more drive wheels) . Allowable Subject Matter Claims 3 – 8 and 10 - 17 are objected. 12-151-07 AIA 07-97 12-51-07 Claim s 20 are allowed. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Ian JEN whose telephone number is (571)270-3274. The examiner can normally be reached on 9AM - 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, Abby Lin can be reached on 5712703976. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /Ian Jen/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 2 Art Unit: 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 3 Art Unit: 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 4 Art Unit: 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 5 Art Unit: 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 6 Art Unit: 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 7 Art Unit: 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 8 Art Unit: 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 9 Art Unit: 3657 Application/Control Number: 18/898,537 Page 10 Art Unit: 3657
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Prosecution Timeline

3600
Application Filed
Jan 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (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
80%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+13.7%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 741 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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