Last updated: July 05, 2026

Application No. 18/941,075

PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY RETICLE STAGE ACTUATORS

Non-Final OA

Filed

Nov 08, 2024

Priority

Nov 09, 2023 — provisional 63/597,407

Examiner

WHITESELL, STEVEN H

Art Unit

1759

Tech Center

1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering

Assignee

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +13.3% interview lift. Interview already conducted in this application's prosecution history. This examiner has a 82% grant rate with +13.3% interview lift. Since an interview has already been tried, recommend written response with narrowed claims based on precedent claim evolution patterns.

Based on 960 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

WHITESELL, STEVEN H View full profile →

Grants 82% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

786 granted / 960 resolved

+16.9% vs TC avg

Moderate +13% lift

Without

With

+13.3%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 7m

Avg Prosecution

43 currently pending

Career history

1009

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.4%

-38.6% vs TC avg

§103

79.0%

+39.0% vs TC avg

§102

12.4%

-27.6% vs TC avg

§112

5.1%

-34.9% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 960 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 08, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 01, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed

Jun 16, 2026

Interview Requested

Jun 23, 2026

Examiner Interview Summary

Jun 23, 2026

Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/474,561

Patent 12669675

METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MIRROR OF A LITHOGRAPHY SYSTEM

2y 9m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/629,615

Patent 12663730

FRONT-TO-BACK OVERLAY (FTBO) STANDARD

2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/093,106

Patent 12656677

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACTINIC MASK INSPECTION AND REVIEW IN VACUUM

3y 5m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

18/386,869

Patent 12656674

RETICLE CONTAINER WITH DIRECTED PURGE FLOW

2y 7m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

18/907,047

Patent 12656695

ELECTRIC COMPONENT BOX AND EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT GENERATION APPARATUS

1y 8m to grant Granted Jun 16, 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.

Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

82%

Grant Probability

95%

With Interview (+13.3%)

2y 7m (~11m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 960 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.