Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/952,445

MOTOR DRIVE, MOTOR SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING MOTOR

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Nov 19, 2024
Priority
Nov 22, 2023 — JP 2023-198073
Examiner
AGARED, GABRIEL T
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Toyota Group
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
484 granted / 583 resolved
+23.0% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+19.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
600
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.9%
-37.1% vs TC avg
§103
49.0%
+9.0% vs TC avg
§102
34.7%
-5.3% vs TC avg
§112
10.2%
-29.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 583 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 . This action is in response to an application filed on 11/19/2024. Claims 1-15 are pending for examination. 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 1-15 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. In regards to independent claims 1 and 12, the claims recite “…wherein the controller creates an angle difference, between a d axis in a d-q rotating frame and a γ axis estimating the d axis…” and independent claim 15 recite “…creating an angle difference, between a d axis in a d-q rotating frame and a γ axis estimating the d axis…”, respectively, however it is not clear how the controller creates an angle difference between a d axis and a γ axis and estimates the d axis using the same d-q rotating frame. In light of the specification, it is understood as best illustrated by at least Fig.3 and paragraph [0047] that “… When the sensorless control of the motor 3 is performed, it is difficult for the controller 22 to accurately grasp the d axis and the q axis of the rotor 301. Therefore, a γ-δ rotating frame is used, instead of the d-q rotating frame defined by the d axis and the q axis. The γ-δ rotating frame is defined by a γ axis and a δ axis estimating the d axis and the q axis…” Appropriate correction and clarification is required. In regards to claim 8, the claim recite “…wherein when the controller senses the deterioration of the motor, the controller notifies an outside of the motor drive of the deterioration of the motor…”, however, it is not clear what it meant by notifying an outside of the motor drive. The examiner couldn’t find further explanation from the instant specification other than what is recited in paragraph [0146] which simply recites what is stated in the claim. Appropriate correction and clarification is required. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-15 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure (US 2015/0311845 A1: A motor drive device drives a multi-phase synchronous motor in an electric compressor. The multi-phase synchronous motor includes a rotor that is provided with a permanent magnet and a stator having coils of different phases. The motor drive device includes an inverter that supplies current to the coils and a control unit that controls the inverter. The control unit executes an initial angular position calculation processing of detecting a d-axis and a q-axis as an initial angular position of the rotor, a rotating processing of rotating the d-axis and the q-axis in a direction opposite to rotation of the rotor, an acceleration processing of accelerating the rotation of the rotor, and a sensorless control processing of controlling the rotation of the rotor – see [Abstract]). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GABRIEL T AGARED whose telephone number is (571)270-1981. The examiner can normally be reached 8-5 (Mon- Thur). 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, Eduardo Colon-Santana can be reached at (571) 272-2060. 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. /GABRIEL AGARED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 19, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12706554
CONTROLLER
2y 4m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12686276
DRIVE DEVICE AND DETERIORATION DISCRIMINATION METHOD
2y 0m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12683534
MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12683527
SENSORLESS TRAPEZOIDAL MOTOR CONTROL
2y 9m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12675092
Frequency Domain Work Analysis of Machinery including Turbomachinery
3y 3m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
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
83%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+19.2%)
2y 6m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 583 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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