Last updated: July 05, 2026

Application No. 18/922,194

EDGE DEFECT DETECTION VIA IMAGE ANALYTICS

Non-Final OA

Filed

Oct 21, 2024

Priority

Sep 21, 2022 — continuation of 12/211,195

Examiner

KIM, PETER B

Art Unit

2882

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

Applied Materials Inc.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +9.3% interview lift. Interview lift (+9.3%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 952 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

KIM, PETER B View full profile →

Grants 83% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

789 granted / 952 resolved

+14.9% vs TC avg

Moderate +9% lift

Without

With

+9.3%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 6m

Avg Prosecution

25 currently pending

Career history

983

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.6%

-38.4% vs TC avg

§103

69.4%

+29.4% vs TC avg

§102

7.7%

-32.3% vs TC avg

§112

5.7%

-34.3% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 952 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 21, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 07, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

17/684,179

Patent 12663728

OBLIQUE ILLUMINATION FOR OVERLAY METROLOGY

4y 3m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/266,246

Patent 12663726

OPTIMIZATION OF LITHOGRAPHIC PROCESS BASED ON BANDWIDTH AND SPECKLE

3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/612,799

Patent 12650651

EXPOSURE APPARATUS

2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026

18/255,261

Patent 12631968

METROLOGY SYSTEM AND COHERENCE ADJUSTERS

2y 11m to grant Granted May 19, 2026

18/319,510

Patent 12619167

OPTICAL INSPECTION DEVICE FOR SURFACE OF RETICLE POD AND OPTICAL INSPECTION METHOD FOR SURFACE OF RETICLE POD

2y 11m to grant Granted May 05, 2026

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

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

83%

Grant Probability

92%

With Interview (+9.3%)

2y 6m (~10m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 952 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.