Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 15, 2026
Application No. 18/965,454

CONVERTING DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Dec 02, 2024
Priority
Sep 24, 2024 — CN 202411331680.5
Examiner
TRAN, NGUYEN
Art Unit
2838
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Omnion Power Technology GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
912 granted / 1092 resolved
+15.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
1130
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
55.1%
+15.1% vs TC avg
§102
29.3%
-10.7% vs TC avg
§112
11.4%
-28.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1092 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
DETAILED ACTION 1. This action is in response to the application filed on 12/2/24. Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 2. 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 § 112 3. 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. 4. Claim 9 is 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. Claim 9 recites the limitation “during a delayed time when the second transistor is disconnected…; and when the voltage of the second node is adjusted to a first voltage level, disconnect the second transistor”. This is unclear, because the second transistor is already disconnected during the delayed time. Therefore, how is the second transistor disconnecting again when the voltage adjusted to the first voltage level? Claims 10-20 are rejected due to their dependency of claim 9. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 5. 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 6. Claims 1 and 8-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Popovici et al. (US 20140218973). Regarding claim 1: Popovici et al. disclose (i.e. figures 3 and 7) a method of controlling a converting device (i.e. 300), the method comprising: connecting a first transistor (i.e. Q1) coupled to a first node (i.e. N1) and a second transistor (i.e. Q2) coupled to a second node (i.e. N2) to generate a primary current (i.e. Ip) flowing from the first node (i.e. N1) through a primary coil (i.e. 320) to the second node (i.e. N2); generating a secondary current (i.e. IS) according to the primary current (i.e. Ip) to supply power to a load (i.e. 308); and performing one of: during a delayed time (i.e. time of DBBM at t2-t2’) when the second transistor (i.e. Q2) is disconnected (i.e. Off), discharging the second node (i.e. N2) by the second transistor (i.e. Q2) to decrease a voltage (i.e. voltage at N2 when Q2 is turn off during the delayed time) of the second node (i.e. N2); and when the voltage of the second node is adjusted to a first voltage level, disconnecting the second transistor; or during the delayed time (i.e. time of DBBM at t2-t2’) when the second transistor (i.e. Q2) is disconnected (i.e. Off), charging the second node (i.e. N2) by the first transistor (i.e. Q1, figure 7: signal ZVS1) (i.e. ¶ 28-31 and 47-50). Regarding claim 8: Popovici et al. disclose (i.e. figures 3 and 7) a converting device (i.e. 300), comprising: a first transistor (i.e. Q1) coupled to a first node (i.e. N1); a second transistor (i.e. Q2) coupled to a second node (i.e. N2); and an input power source (i.e. Vin) configured to generate a primary current (i.e. Ip) that flows from the first node (i.e. N1) through a primary coil (i.e. 320) to the second node (i.e. N2), wherein when the second transistor (i.e. Q2) is disconnected (i.e. Off), charge the second node (i.e. N2) through the first transistor (i.e. Q1) by the input power source (i.e. Vin) (i.e. ¶ 28-31 and 47-50). Regarding claim 9: (i.e. figures 3 and 7) wherein: during a delayed time (i.e. time of DBBM at t2-t2’) when the second transistor (i.e. Q2, figure 7: signal ZVS2) is disconnected (i.e. Off), discharge the second node (i.e. N2) by the second transistor (i.e. Q2) to decrease a voltage (i.e. voltage at N2) of the second node (i.e. N2); and when the voltage (i.e. voltage at N2) of the second node (i.e. N1) is adjusted to a first voltage level (i.e. voltage level provides at N2 when Q1 or Q2 is off), disconnect the second transistor (i.e. Q2 off) (i.e. ¶ 28-31 and 47-50). Allowable Subject Matter 7. Claims 2-7 and 10-19 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 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NGUYEN TRAN whose telephone number is (571)270-1269. The examiner can normally be reached Flex: M-F 8-7. 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, Monica Lewis can be reached at 571-272-1838. 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. /Nguyen Tran/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 02, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (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
84%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+7.7%)
2y 5m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1092 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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