Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/965,825

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE AND METHOD THEREOF

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 02, 2024
Priority
Jun 21, 2024 — RE 10-2024-0081428
Examiner
KATZ, DYLAN MICHAEL
Art Unit
3657
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Hyundai Motor Company
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
12m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
255 granted / 294 resolved
+34.7% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+21.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
330
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.4%
-37.6% vs TC avg
§103
88.9%
+48.9% vs TC avg
§102
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
§112
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 294 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 . 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 1-20 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. Regarding Claims 1 and 11, the claim recites the limitation "determining, based on a difference between the minimum loss value and angles within the second range of angles being within a threshold value, a heading direction of the virtual box". The claim language highlighted above makes it unclear whether the limitation means 1) the difference between the minimum loss values and the other loss values of angles within the second range or 2) the difference between the angle with the minimum loss value and the other angles themselves in the second range is within a threshold. In other words, it is unclear whether the threshold is a loss threshold or an angle threshold. For examining purposes, the claims will be interpreted to have meaning 1. Examiner recommends to amend the claim language in the independent claims to clarify what the “difference” is referring to with language Claims 2-10, 12-20 are rejected for being dependent on rejected claims, and failing to cure the deficiencies. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-20 are rejected above for 112(b) issues but the prior art does not appear to teach the claimed invention. The closest prior art comes from Baeg et al (US 20220189040) but the prior art does not appear to teach “determine a virtual box corresponding to the object by determining, based on a difference between the minimum loss value and angles within the second range of angles being within a threshold value, a heading direction of the virtual box” in combination with all of the other limitations in the independent claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DYLAN M KATZ whose telephone number is (571)272-2776. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs. 8:00-6:00. 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, Abby Lin can be reached on (571) 270-3976. 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. /DYLAN M KATZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3657
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 02, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 25, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12636102
SYSTEM FOR CHECKING INSTRUMENT STATE OF A SURGICAL ROBOTIC ARM
3y 11m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12636786
SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANAGING AN AUTONOMOUS ROBOT DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR A BUILDING
3y 10m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12636792
CONTAINERIZED ROBOTIC SYSTEM
2y 8m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12636782
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING SPEED REDUCER FOR ROBOT
2y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12636779
CONTROLLING A TELEROBOT
1y 10m to grant Granted May 26, 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
87%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+21.1%)
2y 5m (~12m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 294 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month