Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/976,340

HYDROGEN ENGINE CONTROLLER

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 11, 2024
Priority
Jan 29, 2024 — JP 2024-010994
Examiner
HOLBROOK, TEUTA BAJRAMOVIC
Art Unit
3747
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
10m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allowance Rate
459 granted / 634 resolved
+2.4% vs TC avg
Strong +26% interview lift
Without
With
+26.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
656
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
80.4%
+40.4% vs TC avg
§102
13.4%
-26.6% vs TC avg
§112
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 634 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Claim Objections Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1, line 4 recites “processing circuitry”, which should recite --a processing circuitry--. Appropriate correction is required. 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) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Sugimoto et al. (JP 2009-91977 A), hereafter Sugimoto, as evidenced with (Ma et al., CN 116696544). Regarding claim 1, Sugimoto discloses a hydrogen engine controller (24) configured to control a hydrogen [0038] engine including a forced induction device and cylinders (is known in the art for a hydrogen engine to include a forced induction device, as evidenced with Ma’s Fig. 1), the hydrogen engine controller, comprising: processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to repeatedly set a target fuel injection amount based on a target engine torque [0038], the processing circuitry is configured to repeatedly determine whether an anomaly combustion is occurring, the anomaly combustion being an anomaly in which a combustion occurs at a point in time differing from an ignition timing, when determining that the anomaly combustion has occurred in two or more of the cylinders, the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether an intake system anomaly has occurred, the intake system anomaly being an anomaly in which an amount of air supplied to the cylinders is decreased, and when determining that the intake system anomaly has occurred, the processing circuitry is configured to limit the target fuel injection amount [0038]. Regarding claim 2, Sugimoto discloses the hydrogen engine controller according to claim 1, wherein when determining that the anomaly combustion has occurred in two or more of the cylinders, the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the target fuel injection amount is greater than a limit injection amount, when determining that the target fuel injection amount is greater than the limit injection amount, the processing circuitry is configured to determine that the intake system anomaly has occurred, and the limit injection amount decreases as an intake air amount detected by an airflow meter decreases [0027]. Regarding claim 3, Sugimoto discloses the hydrogen engine controller according to claim 2, wherein the limit injection amount decreases as a rotational speed of the hydrogen engine increases [0027]. Regarding claim 4, Sugimoto discloses the hydrogen engine controller according to claim 1, wherein when determining that the intake system anomaly has occurred, the processing circuitry is configured to limit the target engine torque to be less than or equal to a torque limit value, thereby limiting the target fuel injection amount, and the torque limit value decreases as a rotational speed of the hydrogen engine increases (Sugimoto discloses fuel cutting performed on the misfired cylinder, and it is known in art that the torque is inversely proportional to the rotating speed of the engine, the faster the rotating speed is, the smaller the torque is, the slower the rotating speed is, the larger the torque is). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TEUTA B HOLBROOK whose telephone number is (571)270-3276. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8am-4:30pm 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, LINDSAY LOW can be reached at 571-272-1196. 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. /TEUTA HOLBROOK/ Examiner Art Unit 3747 /GEORGE C JIN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 11, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
May 18, 2026
Response Filed

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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
72%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+26.0%)
2y 3m (~10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 634 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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