Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/958,457

DATA TRANSMISSION VIA POWER LINE

Non-Final OA §101§103§DP
Filed
Nov 25, 2024
Examiner
VLAHOS, SOPHIA
Art Unit
2633
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Texas Instruments Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allow Rate
706 granted / 811 resolved
+25.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
828
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.8%
-36.2% vs TC avg
§103
44.9%
+4.9% vs TC avg
§102
19.5%
-20.5% vs TC avg
§112
23.3%
-16.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 811 resolved cases

Office Action

§101 §103 §DP
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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 11/25/2024 has been considered by the examiner. Claim Objections Claims 1-13 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1, line 2 the recited reference number in parentheses “(106)” should be removed. Claim 1, line4 the recited “(108)” should be removed. Dependent claims 2-3 are also objected to since they depend on objected claim 1. Claim 4, line 7 the recited “(112)” should be removed. Dependent claims 5-7 are also objected to since they depend on objected claim 4. Claim 8, line 7 the recited “(112)” should be removed. Dependent claims 9-13 are also objected to since they depend on objected claim 8. Double Patenting The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b). The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13. The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. Claims 1, 4-6, 8, 12-17 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-8 of U.S. Patent No. 12,199,694. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because: claim 1 of U.S. 12,199,694 claims the subject matter claimed by instant claim 1, claim 2 of U.S. 12,199,694 claims the subject matter claimed by instant claims 4 and 8. Claims 3-4 of U.S. 12,199,694 claim the subject matter claimed by instant claims 5-6. Claim 4 of U.S. 12,199,694 claims the subject matter claimed by instant claims 12-13. Claims 5-8 of U.S. 12,199,694 claim the subject matter claimed by instant claims 14-17. Claims 1-4, 7-13 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-8, 10 of U.S. Patent No. 11,133,841. (This patent is cited in the 11/25/2024 IDS). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because: claim 1 of U.S. 11,133,841 claims the subject matter claimed by instant claim 1, claim 2 of U.S. 11,133,841 claims the subject matter claimed by instant claim 3, claim 3 of U.S. 11,133,841 claims the subject matter claimed by instant claim 2. Claim 8 of U.S. 11,113,841 claims the subject matter claimed by instant claims 4 and 7. Claim 4 of U.S. 11,133,841 claims the subject matter claimed by instant claim 8. Claims 5-8, 10 of U.S. 11,133,841 claim the subject matter claimed by instant claims 9-13. A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957). A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101. 8. Claims 3, 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1, 2 of prior U.S. Patent No. U.S. 12,199,694. This is a statutory double patenting rejection. 9. Claims 14-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 11-14 of prior U.S. Patent No. U.S. 11,133,841. This is a statutory double patenting rejection. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 10. 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. 11. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. 12. Claims 1-2, 4-6, 8, 12-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maung et al. (U.S. 2016/0269126)(reference cited in the 11/25/2024 IDS) in view of Pigott et al. (U.S. 2015/0004902)(reference cited in the 11/25/2024 IDS). With respect to claim 1, Maung et al. disclose: an embedded USB (eUSB) repeater (106) configured to convert a 2-line data in an USB format to 2-line data in an eUSB format (Fig. 3, refer to 345 (or 360) [0031] the conversion from DP/DM to eD+/eD- performed by 345 (or 360), conversion described in at least [0031]-[0032]); and an eUSB to power line (e2pwr) repeater (108) coupled to the eUSB repeater and configured to encode the 2-line data into (Fig. 3, lines 8-12 of [0006] refer to the use of electrically isolating interface for example refer to the disclosed inductive interface, [0046], refer to the (not shown) circuit(s) replacing 340 (or 310) and used to implement communication over an inductive interface. It is coupled to 345 (or 360) and encodes the 2-line data into a format suitable (transformed signal) for inductive communication (into a transmission signal)) a transmission signal; wherein the e2pwr repeater (the inductive interface replacing 340 (or 310)) encodes the 2-line data into the transmission signal (it encodes the 2-line data (eD+, eD-) out of 345 (or 360) eUSB repeater into a format suitable for inductive communication (into a transmission signal)). Maung et al. do not disclose: single transmission signal; by generating a single wave in the single transmission signal. Implementing inductive interface communication, Pigott et al. disclose: single transmission signal; by generating a sine wave in the single transmission signal (e.g. Fig. 1, inductive communication interface and [0024] inductive communication system, refer to at least lines 1-15 of [0024] description of how the communication signal is generated based on a sinusoidal drive signal (single transmission signal) which is converted into a time-varying magnetic field by the transmit coil). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the inductive interface (replacing 340 or 310) of Maung et al. using the known and suitable components (which implement an inductive interface) disclosed by Pigott et al (Fig. 1, [0024] of Pigott et al). With respect to claim 2, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater is further configured to receive a second single transmission signal encoded with second 2-line data and decode the second single transmission signal to recover the second 2-line data from the second single transmission signal (function of the inductive interface circuit replacing 340 (or 310) which receives a second single transmission signal (over the inductive link), the single transmission signal encoded with second 2-line data (from the opposite side eUSB2 repeater) and decodes the second signal transmission signal (converts the second signal transmission signal into eD+ and eD- supplied to 345 (or 360)).. With respect to claim 4, Maung et al. disclose: a host device (Fig. 3, claimed host device corresponds to at least 335 or 355 approximate middle of [0043] e.g. refer to the disclosed host mode) comprising: an embedded USB (eUSB) repeater configured to convert a 2-line data in the USB format to 2-line data in an eUSB format (Fig. 3, refer to 345 (or 360) [0031] the conversion from DP/DM to eD+/eD- performed by 345 (or 360), conversion described in at least [0031]-[0032]); an eUSB to power line (e2pwr) repeater coupled to the eUSB repeater and configured to encode the 2-line data in the eUSB format (Fig. 3, lines 8-12 of [0006] refer to the use of electrically isolating interface for example refer to the disclosed inductive interface, [0046], refer to the (not shown) circuit(s) replacing 340 (or 310) and used to implement communication over an inductive interface. It is coupled to 345 (or 360) and encodes the 2-line data into a format suitable (transformed signal) for inductive communication); and a device (claimed device corresponds to the inductive interface which replaces 310 when the host device comprises 335 or corresponds to the inductive interface which replaces 340 when the host device comprises 355) comprising a second e2pwr repeater configured to receive a transmission signal and decode the single transmission signal to recover the 2-line data in the eUSB format (function of 310 (or 340 decodes the indictive transmission signal into a format suitable for the eUSB2 repeater)). The claimed “e2pwr” repeater is interpreted as a circuit which performs the claimed receive and decode to recover the 2-line data in the eUSB format, the circuit implementing the inductive interface and communication (instead of the optical communication shown)); and wherein the e2pwr repeater is coupled to the second e2pwr repeater (circuit (replacing 340) implementing inductive communication over the inductive interface is coupled to the circuit (replacing 310) via the inductive interface); wherein the e2pwr repeater encodes the 2-line data into the transmission signal (circuit replacing 340 to implement inductive communication over the inductive interface encodes the 2-line data (eD+, eD-) out of 345 eUSB repeater) Maung et al. do not expressly disclose: single transmission signal; by generating a sine wave in the single transmission signal. Implementing inductive interface communication, Pigott et al. disclose: single transmission signal; by generating a sine wave in the single transmission signal (e.g. Fig. 1, inductive communication interface and [0024] inductive communication system, refer to at least lines 1-15 of [0024] description of how the communication signal is generated based on a sinusoidal drive signal (single transmission signal) which is converted into a time-varying magnetic field by the transmit coil). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the inductive interface of Maung et al. using the known and suitable components (implementing an inductive interface) disclosed by Pigott et al (Fig. 1, [0024] of Pigott et al). With respect to claim 5, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the second e2pwr repeater is further configured to encode second 2-line data into a second single transmission signal (circuit replacing 340 generating a single transmission signal in response to receiving transmit eD+, eD- to generate the sinusoidal drive signal which is converted into a time-varying magnetic field or flux). With respect to claim 6, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater is further configured to receive the second single transmission signal encoded with the second 2-line data and decode the second single transmission signal to recover the second 2-line data from the second single transmission signal (function of circuit replacing 310 in response to receiving the second single transmission signal out of the circuit replacing 340 and received over the inductive interface). With respect to claim 8, Maung et al. disclose: a host device (Fig. 3, claimed host device corresponds to at least 335 or 355 approximate middle of [0043] e.g. refer to the disclosed host mode) comprising: an embedded USB (eUSB) repeater configured to convert a 2-line data in the USB format to 2-line data in an eUSB format (Fig. 3, refer to 345 (or 360) [0031] the conversion from DP/DM to eD+/eD- performed by 345 (or 360), conversion described in at least [0031]-[0032].); an eUSB to power line (e2pwr) repeater coupled to the eUSB repeater and configured to encode the 2-line data in the eUSB format (Fig. 3, in light of lines 8-12 of [0006] refer to the use of electrically isolating interface for example refer to the disclosed inductive interface (alternative to optical interfance), [0046] (claim 8 does not claim encoding the 2-line data in the eUSB format into a power line compatible format or transmission over a power line therefore the claimed “e2pwr” is treated as a circuit which converts the eUSB format signal into a transformed signal), refer to the (not shown) circuit(s) replacing 340 and used to implement communication over an inductive interface. It is coupled to 345 and encodes the 2-line data into a format suitable (transformed signal) for inductive communication); and a device (claimed device corresponds to 310 when the host device comprises 335 or corresponds to 340 when the host device comprises 355) comprising a second e2pwr repeater configured to receive a transmission signal and decode the single transmission signal to recover the 2-line data in the eUSB format (function of 310 (or 340). Similar to above the claimed “e2pwr” repeater is interpreted as a circuit which performs the claimed receive and decode to recover the 2-line data in the eUSB format, the circuit implementing the inductive interface and communication (instead of the optical communication shown)); and wherein the e2pwr repeater is coupled to the second e2pwr repeater (circuit (replacing 340) implementing inductive communication over the inductive interface is coupled to the circuit (replacing 310) via the inductive interface); wherein the e2pwr repeater encodes the 2-line data into the transmission signal (circuit replacing 340 to implement inductive communication over the inductive interface encodes the 2-line data (eD+, eD-) out of 345 eUSB repeater) Maung et al. do not expressly disclose: single transmission signal. Implementing inductive interface communication, Pigott et al. disclose: single transmission signal; by generating a sine wave in the single transmission signal (e.g. Fig. 1, inductive communication interface and [0024] inductive communication system, refer to at least lines 1-15 of [0024] description of how the communication signal is generated based on a sinusoidal drive signal (single transmission signal) which is converted into a time-varying magnetic field by the transmit coil (alternative single transmission signal)). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the inductive interface of Maung et al. using the known and suitable components (implementing an inductive interface) disclosed by Pigott et al (Fig. 1, [0024] of Pigott et al). Claims 12-13 are rejected based on the rationale used to reject claims 5-6 above. 13. Claims 8-10, 12-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maung et al. (U.S. 2016/0269126) in view of Werthen et al. (U.S. 2008/0235418)(reference cited in the 11/25/2024 IDS). With respect to claim 8, Maung et al. disclose: a host device (Fig. 3, claimed host device corresponds to at least 335 or 355 approximate middle of [0043] e.g. refer to the disclosed host mode) comprising: an embedded USB (eUSB) repeater configured to convert a 2-line data in the USB format to 2-line data in an eUSB format (Fig. 3, refer to 345 (or 360) [0031] the conversion from DP/DM to eD+/eD- performed by 345 (or 360), conversion described in at least [0031]-[0032]); an eUSB to power line (e2pwr) repeater coupled to the eUSB repeater and configured to encode the 2-line data in the eUSB format (Fig. 3, refer to optical transceiver 340 (or 310) which corresponds to the claimed “eUSB to power line” repeater (claim 8 does not claim encoding the 2-line data in the eUSB format into a power line compatible format or transmission over a power line therefore the claimed “e2pwr” is treated as a circuit which converts the eUSB format signal into a transformed signal) 340 is coupled to 345 and encodes the 2-line data into a format suitable (transformed signal) for optical transmission via 330, last sentence of [0028], last sentence of [0031] 2-line data is converted to an optical signal); and a device (claimed device corresponds to 310 when the host device comprises 335 or corresponds to 340 when the host device comprises 355) comprising a second e2pwr repeater configured to receive a transmission signal and decode the single transmission signal to recover the 2-line data in the eUSB format (function of 310 (or 340). Similar to above the claimed “e2pwr” repeater is interpreted as a circuit which performs the claimed receive and decode to recover the 2-line data in the eUSB format, at least lines 1-2 of [0032] (340 functions in a similar manner when it receives data over 330)); and wherein the e2pwr repeater is coupled to the second e2pwr repeater via a transmission line over which the transmission signal is transmitted (340 is coupled to 310 via 330, lines 1-4 of [0047]). Maung et al. do not expressly disclose: single transmission signal. In the field of converting USB signals to optical data, Werthen et al. discloses: single transmission signal (Fig. 2, pulse diagram of Fig. 3 and detailed view of transmitter comprising 120, 130 of Fig. 2. A single transmission signal (optical pulse) is generated at the output of 130. [0049], [0052] and [0053]-[0059] which describes the function of the transmitter of Fig. 4 used in Fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the optical transceiver of Maung et al. to use the USB-to-optical transceiver components of Fig. 1 of Werthen et al. to implement the e2pwr (optical transceiver 310 (and 340)) and perform encoding of the eD+, eD- to a single (optical) transmission signal by using a transmitter comprising 120, 130 of Fig. 4 (of Werthen et al.) which is capable of transmitting special optical signals (in addition to “regular” data optical signals) as described in [0059] of Werthen et al. With respect to claim 9, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater encodes the 2-line data into the single transmission signal by generating a signal pulse in the single transmission signal at each state change of the 2-line data (as described in [0054]-[0058] of Werthen et al. also shown in Fig. 3). With respect to claim 10, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater encodes the 2-line data into the single transmission signal by generating a single signal pulse in the single transmission signal at each state change of a first component of the 2-line data (Werthen et al. [0054]-[0058] when D+ changes from 0 to 1 a single signal pulse is generated by the change from 0mA to 25mA or 50mA to 25mA or 50mA to 75mA or 0mA to 75mA drives the LED which generates a pulse according to the current supplied to it. When D+ changes from 1 to 0 a single pulse is generated by the change from 25mA to 0mA or 25mA to 50mA or 75mA to 0mA or 75mA to 50mA). With respect to claim 12, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the second e2pwr repeater is further configured to encode second 2-line data into a second single transmission signal (function of modified 310 in response to receiving transmit eD+, eD- out of 360 and converts them to a second single optical transmission signal based on the teachings of Werthen et al.). With respect to claim 13, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater is further configured to receive the second single transmission signal encoded with the second 2-line data and decode the second single transmission signal to recover the second 2-line data from the second single transmission signal (function of modified 310 in response to receiving the second single transmission signal out of 340 over 330). 14. Claims 8-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Maung et al. (U.S. 2016/0269126) in view of Bortolini (U.S. 5,105,293)(reference cited in the 11/25/2024 IDS). With respect to claim 8, Maung et al. disclose: a host device (Fig. 3, claimed host device corresponds to at least 335 or 355 approximate middle of [0043] e.g. refer to the disclosed host mode) comprising: an embedded USB (eUSB) repeater configured to convert a 2-line data in the USB format to 2-line data in an eUSB format (Fig. 3, refer to 345 (or 360) [0031] the conversion from DP/DM to eD+/eD- performed by 345 (or 360), conversion described in at least [0031]-[0032]); an eUSB to power line (e2pwr) repeater coupled to the eUSB repeater and configured to encode the 2-line data in the eUSB format (Fig. 3, refer to optical transceiver 340 (or 310) which corresponds to the claimed “eUSB to power line” repeater (claim 1 does not claim encoding the 2-line data in the eUSB format into a power line compatible format or transmission over a power line therefore the claimed “e2pwr” is treated as a circuit which converts the eUSB format signal into a transformed signal) 340 is coupled to 345 and encodes the 2-line data into a format suitable (transformed signal) for optical transmission via 330, last sentence of [0028], last sentence of [0031] 2-line data is converted to an optical signal); and a device (claimed device corresponds to 310 when the host device comprises 335 or corresponds to 340 when the host device comprises 355) comprising a second e2pwr repeater configured to receive a transmission signal and decode the single transmission signal to recover the 2-line data in the eUSB format (function of 310 (or 340). Similar to above the claimed “e2pwr” repeater is interpreted as a circuit which performs the claimed receive and decode to recover the 2-line data in the eUSB format, at least lines 1-2 of [0032] (340 functions in a similar manner when it receives data over 330)); and wherein the e2pwr repeater is coupled to the second e2pwr repeater via a transmission line over which the transmission signal is transmitted (340 is coupled to 310 via 330, lines 1-4 of [0047]). Maung et al. do not expressly disclose: single transmission signal. In the field of converting differential signals to optical data, Bortolini discloses: single transmission signal (Fig. 1 and 3, 4a-4b where differential signals out of 21 are converted into a single (implicit) optical transmission signal (having two wavelength components) propagating into the fiber 12 by using wavelength division multiplexing. Column 2, lines 39-50, column 4, lines 30-45, 61-68). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the optical transceiver (340, 310) of Maung et al. to perform WDM differential optical transmission and communication of the differential eD+ and eD- by using WDM through a single optical fiber as taught by Bortolini so that :”the common optical path and the use of differential signaling minimize common-mode distortion” (Bortolini column 2, lines 64-68, column 3, lines 1-11). With respect to claim 9, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater encodes the 2-line data into the single transmission signal by generating a signal pulse in the single transmission signal at each state change of the 2-line data (as shown in Fig. 4a for example refer to the λ1 part of the single transmission signal (λ1 + λ2). With respect to claim 10, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater encodes the 2-line data into the single transmission signal by generating a single signal pulse in the single transmission signal at each state change of a first component of the 2-line data (Fig. 4a λ1 state change from 0 to 1 and 1 to 0 of the input signal (Fig. 4b one component of the differential signal out of 21) comprises a respective single signal pulse the saw pattern and 0 respectively). With respect to claim 11, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater encodes the 2-line data into the single transmission signal by generating a pair of signal pulses in the single transmission signal at each state change of a second component of the 2-line data (Fig. 4a with λ1 waveform corresponding to the first component of the 2-line signal and λ2 corresponding to the second component of the 2-line signal. At each state change of the second component (inverse of the input signal), a pair of signal pulses is generated – part of the saw-pattern of the non-zero λ2 and λ1 which corresponds to each state change of the second component of the 2-line data). With respect to claim 12, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the second e2pwr repeater is further configured to encode second 2-line data into a second single transmission signal (function of modified 310 in response to receiving transmit eD+, eD- out of 360 and converts them to a second single optical transmission signal based on the teachings Bortolini out of 35)). With respect to claim 13, modified Maung et al. disclose: wherein the e2pwr repeater is further configured to receive a second single transmission signal encoded with second 2-line data and decode the second single transmission signal to recover the second 2-line data from the second single transmission signal (function of modified 340 when it receives the second single transmission signal received over 330 and decodes the second single optical transmission signal into eD+, eD- supplied to 345). Contact Information 15. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SOPHIA VLAHOS whose telephone number is (571)272-5507. The examiner can normally be reached M 8:00-4:00, TWRF 8:00-2:00. 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, SAM K AHN can be reached at 571-272-3044. 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. SOPHIA VLAHOS Examiner Art Unit 2633 /SOPHIA VLAHOS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2633 02/05/2026fsinglefsingle
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 25, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §101, §103, §DP (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+10.6%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 811 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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