Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/914,538

ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 14, 2024
Priority
Oct 19, 2023 — provisional 63/591,490
Examiner
JACKSON, LAKAISHA
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Lear Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
426 granted / 498 resolved
+25.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
513
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
51.4%
+11.4% vs TC avg
§102
27.1%
-12.9% vs TC avg
§112
13.9%
-26.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 498 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed 10/14/2024, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . 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 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. Specification The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. 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. Claim(s) 1, 2, and 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Harris, IV, US 2007/0103833. Re claim 1, Harris, IV teaches an electrical assembly [Figs 1, 6], comprising: a conductor [node]; a switch [50] electrically connected to the conductor; and a control circuit [20] connected to the switch, the control circuit including at least one of an electronic controller [microcomputer 30], a sensor, or a filter; wherein the control circuit is configured to operate the switch according to a maximum energy capacity [let-through energy] of the conductor and a net energy [total energy] of the conductor [paragraph 109]. Re claim 2, Harris, IV teaches wherein operating the switch includes opening the switch in accordance with determining that the net energy exceeds the maximum energy capacity [paragraph 109]. Re claim 5, Harris, IV teaches wherein the net energy of the conductor includes a sum of a present energy value and a prior energy value [paragraph 111, the next cycle calculates E total-1 for its previous cycle]. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 8-20 are allowed. Claims 3, 6, and 7 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 fails to teach or disclose: Re claim 3 and its dependents thereof, the closet prior art (which has been made of record) fail to disclose (by themselves or in combination): “the control circuit is configured to determine an energy dissipation of the conductor and determine the net energy, at least in part, according to the energy dissipation” in combination with the additionally claimed features, as are claimed by Applicant. Re claim 6 and its dependents thereof, the closet prior art (which has been made of record) fail to disclose (by themselves or in combination): “the prior energy value includes a prior present energy value and a second prior energy value; and the control circuit obtains the present energy value via the sensor” in combination with the additionally claimed features, as are claimed by Applicant. Re claim 8 and its dependents thereof, the closet prior art (which has been made of record) fail to disclose (by themselves or in combination): “determines whether the conductor is in an equilibrium mode, a consumption mode, or a recovery mode; determines an energy capacity value of the conductor according to the determined mode; and controls the switch according to the energy capacity value” in combination with the additionally claimed features, as are claimed by Applicant. Re claim 16 and its dependents thereof, the closet prior art (which has been made of record) fail to disclose (by themselves or in combination): “determining a net energy of the conductor, at least in part, according to the present energy and the energy dissipation; opening a switch electrically connected with the conductor in accordance with determining that the net energy exceeds a maximum energy capacity of the conductor; and closing the switch or maintaining the switch in a closed position in accordance with determining that the net energy does not exceed the maximum energy capacity of the conductor” in combination with the additionally claimed features, as are claimed by Applicant. Conclusion Examiner's Note: Examiner has cited particular columns and line numbers in the references applied to the claims above for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings of the art and are applied to specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested from the applicant in preparing responses, to fully consider the references in their entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the Examiner. In the case of amending the claimed invention, Applicant is respectfully requested to indicate the portion(s) of the specification which dictate(s) the structure relied on for proper interpretation and also to verify and ascertain the metes and bounds of the claimed invention. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAKAISHA JACKSON whose telephone number is (571)270-3111. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:00-5:00. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, MONICA LEWIS can be reached on 571-272-1838. 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. /LaKaisha Jackson/ Examiner, Art Unit 2838
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 14, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
86%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+11.9%)
2y 4m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 498 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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