Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 28, 2026
Application No. 18/966,151

HEATING SAFETY EVALUATOR

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 03, 2024
Priority
Dec 06, 2023 — JP 2023-206476
Examiner
JAGAN, MIRELLYS
Art Unit
2855
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
1242 granted / 1497 resolved
+15.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+5.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
1524
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
51.1%
+11.1% vs TC avg
§102
32.8%
-7.2% vs TC avg
§112
12.6%
-27.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1497 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claim Objections Claims 1, 2, 9, and 10 are objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 1, --the-- should be added before “detection” in line 10; and --the sample-- should be added after “heating” in line 12. In claim 2, “:” should be deleted from line 2; --the-- should be added before “detection” in line 6; and --the sample-- should be added after “heating” in line 8. In claims 9 and 10, “:” should be deleted from line 2. Appropriate correction is required. 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 1-10 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 claim 1, it is not clear if the heating of the sample, as recited in line 9, is being performed by the periphery heater recited in line 4 or a heater other than the periphery heater. In claim 2, it is not clear if the heater recited in line 3 is what is used to heat the sample, as recited in line 9 of base claim 1; and it is not clear if the series of control recited in lines 5-12 is performed in addition to the series of control recited in base claim 1 or if it describing the series of control recited in base claim 1. Claims 3-10 are rejected for being dependent on a rejected base claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, and the objections set forth in this Office action. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art of record does not disclose or suggest the following in combination with the remaining limitations of the claims: A heating safety evaluator, wherein the series of control includes heating the sample, and thereafter, upon detection of the self-heat generation by the sensor, bringing the sample into a pseudo-adiabatic state by heating with the periphery heater while making an attempt to cause the self-heat generation to cease by cooling the sample with the cooler, the pseudo-adiabatic state is a state in which a heat balance between the sample cooled with the cooler and the periphery of the sample is zero, and a temperature of the sample at which the self-heat generation does not cease during repetition of the series of control is evaluated as a critical temperature at which thermal runaway of the sample occurs even with cooling by the cooler (claim 1). Conclusion The references made of record and not relied upon by the examiner (CN119217979A to Yang et al [closest art] discloses testing for thermal runaway, KR102518856B1 to Choi disclosing testing for thermal runaway, U.S. Patent 12,113,182 to Kim et al disclosing thermal control of a battery, and GB2188163A to Chinery et al disclosing Peltier elements for thermal testing) are considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure, but do not disclose the allowable subject matter stated above. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MIRELLYS JAGAN whose telephone number is (571)272-2247. The examiner can normally be reached Tuesday-Friday 8-6. 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, Kristina DeHerrera can be reached at 303-297-4237. 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. /MIRELLYS JAGAN/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 2855 8/22/26
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 03, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12747991
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Patent 12736411
MOLDED SENSOR ASSEMBLY
3y 12m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
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3y 6m to grant Granted Sep 15, 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
89%
With Interview (+5.7%)
2y 7m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1497 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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