Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/899,649

SWITCHING DRIVERS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 27, 2024
Priority
Jun 03, 2024 — provisional 63/655,213
Examiner
HERNANDEZ, WILLIAM
Art Unit
2849
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
94%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 94% — above average
94%
Career Allowance Rate
889 granted / 947 resolved
+25.9% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 7m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
955
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
§103
16.0%
-24.0% vs TC avg
§102
29.7%
-10.3% vs TC avg
§112
41.9%
+1.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 947 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 14 recites the limitation "the first switching driver" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 15 is rejected for inheriting the indefiniteness of claim 14. Claim 16 recites the limitation "the first and second driver output nodes" in lines 3-4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-13 and 17-26 are presently allowed. Claims 14-16 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM HERNANDEZ whose telephone number is (571)272-8979. The examiner can normally be reached Mon to Fri; 10am to 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, Taelor Kim can be reached at (571) 270-7166. 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. /WILLIAM HERNANDEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2849
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 27, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 11, 2026
Response Filed
May 20, 2026
Final Rejection (signed) — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
94%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+4.1%)
1y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 947 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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