Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/987,058

A WINDOW SHADE SYSTEM AND OPERATIONAL METHOD THEREOF

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 19, 2024
Examiner
EPPS, TODD MICHAEL
Art Unit
3632
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
None recorded (individual inventor: Michael Lin)
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
80%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
725 granted / 998 resolved
+20.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
1016
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
31.4%
-8.6% vs TC avg
§102
29.4%
-10.6% vs TC avg
§112
32.2%
-7.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 998 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 . This is a final Office Action for serial number 18/987,058, Window Shade System And Operational Method Thereof, filed on December 19, 2024. The amendment filed April 29, 2026 is objected to under 35 U.S.C. 132(a) because it introduces new matter into the disclosure. 35 U.S.C. 132(a) states that no amendment shall introduce new matter into the disclosure of the invention. The added material which is not supported by the original disclosure is as follows: An aftermarket on-vehicle camera cleaning kit, and a method of retrofitting an on-vehicle camera cleaning device. Applicant is required to cancel the new matter in the reply to this Office Action. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 11-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TODD M. EPPS whose telephone number is (571) 272-8282. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm. 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, Terrell McKinnon can be reached at 571-272-4797. 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. /TODD M EPPS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3632 June 27, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 19, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 03, 2026
Interview Requested
Apr 29, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 01, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 01, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12747866
HOME APPLIANCE
1y 10m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12729805
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENCLOSURE MOUNTING SYSTEM
2y 2m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12729804
FOLDABLE SUPPORT BRACKET
1y 11m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12710786
ELECTRONIC DEVICE
1y 11m to grant Granted Aug 18, 2026
Patent 12703496
SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY FOR A TURBINE ENGINE
1y 10m to grant Granted Aug 11, 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

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
80%
With Interview (+7.2%)
2y 4m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 998 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