Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/997,892

DC/DC CONVERTER

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jan 23, 2025
Priority
Jul 29, 2022 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2022029332
Examiner
SATHIRAJU, SRINIVAS
Art Unit
2845
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
746 granted / 839 resolved
+20.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
856
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.5%
-36.5% vs TC avg
§103
46.6%
+6.6% vs TC avg
§102
17.6%
-22.4% vs TC avg
§112
15.8%
-24.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 839 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
NOTICE OF NON FINAL REJECTION 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 Objections Claims 1-15 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1 is objected for the term DC/DC converter. Examiner suggests to define the abbreviation of term DC/DC Claim 3 is objected for the term AM for not defining. Examiner suggests to define the abbreviation of term AM. Claim 14 is objected for the term FM for not defining. Examiner suggests to define the abbreviation of term FM. 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 1-15 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. Regarding claim 1, the phrase "such that" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d). Referring to claim 1 lines 6-8 recites a limitation “ controller controls the switching element such that a switching frequency of the switching element becomes higher than an upper limit frequency of a predetermined frequency band. However, claim does not define the which frequency band it is claiming. However, specification mentions it is AM frequency band. But claim language is indefinite. Hence, claim is rejected under indefiniteness. Hence, claim 1 and depending claims 2-15 are rejected. Also, claims 5, 12,13 claims similar limitations and hence, examiner suggests to amend and quantify the claim limitation to define the limitation such that claims are not indefinite. Conclusion Claims 1-15 are rejected. Prior Art: Relevant prior art has been recorded at PTO 892. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SRINIVAS SATHIRAJU whose telephone number is (571)272-4250. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30AM-3:30PM, 5PM -8:30PM. 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, ALEXANDER H TANINGCO can be reached at 5712728048. 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. /SRINIVAS SATHIRAJU/ 08/28/2026 SRINIVAS . SATHIRAJU Primary Examiner Art Unit 2845
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 23, 2025
Application Filed
Sep 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12745901
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING FAILURE IN PLASMA TREATMENT
2y 2m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12738385
MAGNETIC MIRROR MACHINE
3y 9m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12738466
SIGNAL PROCESSING SYSTEM AND POWER SUPPLY DEVICE HAVING A SIGNAL PROCESSING SYSTEM
2y 9m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12738455
RF POWER SPLITTING AND CONTROL
2y 6m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12738454
SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS
2y 2m to grant Granted Sep 15, 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
89%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+6.2%)
2y 0m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 839 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