Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/915,644

CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR SPATIAL RECOGNITION DEVICES FOR WORK MACHINE, AND WORK MACHINE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 15, 2024
Priority
Oct 19, 2023 — JP 2023-180113
Examiner
CZEKAJ, DAVID J
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
49%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 3m
Est. Remaining
40%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 49% of resolved cases
49%
Career Allowance Rate
115 granted / 235 resolved
-11.1% vs TC avg
Minimal -9% lift
Without
With
+-9.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
5y 0m
Avg Prosecution
9 currently pending
Career history
244
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
92.6%
+52.6% vs TC avg
§102
4.3%
-35.7% vs TC avg
§112
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 235 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 § 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-3, 5-6, and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Atsumi et al. (2021/0209800), hereinafter referred to as “Atsumi”. Regarding claim 1, Atsumi discloses a work machine (Atsumi: figure 2), a plurality of spatial recognition devices provided in the work machine and configured to acquire a surrounding situation of the work machine (Atsumi: figures 10 and 14; paragraph 0095, wherein the spatial recognition devices are the stereo cameras), a control device configured to calibrate the plurality of spatial recognition devices, based on an object located around the work machine (Atsumi: figures 17, 18, 20 and 22; paragraph 0189-0191), wherein the control device is configured to teach each spatial recognition device of the plurality of spatial recognition devices whether or not the object is located at a calibratable position (Atsumi: paragraph 0191, wherein the machine is traveled to make sure the target appears in all the captured images which then indicates the object and system have been calibrated). Regarding claim 2, Atsumi discloses wherein the control device is configured to determine whether or not the object is located at the calibratable position and output a determination result for each spatial recognition device of the plurality of spatial recognition devices (Atsumi: paragraphs 0189-0191; figure 18, item 616). Regarding claim 3, Atsumi discloses wherein the control device is configured to output information indicating a moving direction of the object when the control device determines that the object is not located at the calibratable position (Atsumi: paragraph 0191. The system recognizes the object has not moved and instead decides to move the excavator to calibrate the image for the camera). Regarding claim 5, Atsumi discloses a communication device communicable with an external device (Atsumi: figures 17-20), wherein the control device is configured to teach the external device via the communication device whether or not the object is located at the calibration position (Atsumi: figures 17-20). Regarding claim 6, Atsumi discloses wherein the external device is configured to display image information indicating a detection result of the surrounding situation for each spatial recognition device as a teaching of whether or not the object is located at the calibrated position (Atsumi: figures 21-22, wherein the target offset indicates if the object is at the calibrated position). Regarding claim 10, note the examiners rejection for claim 1. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 4 and 7-9 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. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: US20250326610 10/2025 Ohira US20210025133 01/2021 Myers US20180339386 11/2018 Lee US20170284071 10/2017 Yamaguchi Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVE J CZEKAJ whose telephone number is (571)272-7327. The examiner can normally be reached 8-6:00 Monday-Thursday and every other Friday. 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, please contact Jamie Atala at 571-272-7327. 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. /Dave Czekaj/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2487
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 15, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 10, 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
49%
Grant Probability
40%
With Interview (-9.0%)
5y 0m (~3y 3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 235 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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