Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/968,234

ROTOR

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 04, 2024
Priority
Mar 05, 2024 — JP 2024-032984
Examiner
GONZALEZ QUINONES, JOSE A
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Toyota Motor Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
10m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
892 granted / 1174 resolved
+16.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
1193
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
91.7%
+51.7% vs TC avg
§102
6.0%
-34.0% vs TC avg
§112
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1174 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 statements (IDS) submitted on 12/04/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Koplin (DE4430073). As to independent claim 1, Koplin teaches a rotor (40) of rotating electric machine (see title), the rotor (40) comprising: a core (56, 58); a plurality of coils (30) provided in the core (56, 58); a sealing resin (72) configured to seal the plurality of coils (30); a shaft (42) provided at the core (56, 58); and a slip ring structure (62, 64) configured to corotate with the shaft (42), wherein the slip ring structure (62, 64) includes two conductive rings (62, 64) disposed on outer periphery of the shaft (42), two busbars (terminals 32) extending from the two conductive rings (62, 64), respectively, to electrically connect the two conductive rings (62, 64) to windings of the plurality of coils (30), and a resin molded (10) article configured to hold the two conductive rings (62, 64) and the two busbars (terminals 32) by insert molding (72), the resin molded (10) article includes a molded article body configured to hold the two conductive rings (62, 64), an annular terminal holding portion (74) configured to hold terminal portions of the two busbars (terminals 32), and at least one connecting portion configured to connect the molded article body and the terminal holding portion (74), and the terminal holding portion (74) is held by the sealing resin (72) to fix the slip ring structure (62, 64) to the shaft (42) as shown in figure 4 and see claim 10. As to claim 2/1, Koplin teaches wherein: the terminal holding portion (74) has a tubular holding portion body and a projecting portion projecting radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of the holding portion body ; and the projecting portion (22) is sealed with the sealing resin (72) as shown 4 and see claim 10. As to claim 3/1, Koplin teaches wherein: the terminal holding portion (74) has a holding portion body and a flange projecting (16, 18) radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of the holding portion body; and the flange is sealed with the sealing resin (72) as shown in figure 4, and claim 10. As to claim 4/1, Koplin teaches wherein: an outer peripheral surface of the terminal holding portion (74) is formed in an uneven shape when seen from an axial direction of the shaft (42); and the outer peripheral surface of the terminal holding portion (74) is sealed with the sealing resin (72) as shown in figure 4, and see claims 7, 8, 10. As to claim 5/1, Koplin teaches wherein: the terminal holding portion (74) has a holding portion body and a flange (16, 18) projecting (22) radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of the holding portion body; and an outer peripheral surface of the flange (16, 18) is formed in an uneven shape when seen from an axial direction of the shaft (42), and the outer peripheral surface of the flange (16, 18) is sealed with the sealing resin (72) as shown in figure 4 and claims 7, 8, 10. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSE A GONZALEZ QUINONES whose telephone number is (571)270-7850. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 6:30-2:30 EST. 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, OLUSEYE IWARERE can be reached at (571)270-5112. 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. /JOSE A GONZALEZ QUINONES/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834 June 24, 2025
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 04, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12683445
OUTER ROTOR BRUSHLESS MOTOR STATOR MOUNT
3y 2m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12679189
DRIVE UNIT FOR A VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE
2y 5m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12683452
VIBRATION GENERATING DEVICE
1y 12m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12676534
CONCRETE VIBRATOR SYSTEM
2y 11m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12671285
ROTOR FOR MOTOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
2y 3m to grant Granted Jun 30, 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
76%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+12.7%)
2y 5m (~10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1174 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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