Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 19/032,071

FMCW Lidar with a diffractive waveguide

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jan 19, 2025
Priority
Jul 31, 2024 — provisional 63/677,425
Examiner
HAQUE, MD NAZMUL
Art Unit
2487
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Apple Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
558 granted / 669 resolved
+25.4% vs TC avg
Strong +15% interview lift
Without
With
+15.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
709
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.4%
-32.6% vs TC avg
§103
68.0%
+28.0% vs TC avg
§102
4.0%
-36.0% vs TC avg
§112
7.8%
-32.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 669 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. There are a total of 20 claims and claims 1-20 are pending. 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 and 20 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. Claims 1 and 20 recites the limitation " the array of detectors" in in line 27. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is suggested to amend to "an array” or define “an array” earlier in the claim. Claim 20 recites the limitation " the array of detectors" in in line 26. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is suggested to amend to " an array of detectors” or define “an array of detectors” earlier in the claim. Claims 2-19 don' t cure the deficiency of claims 1 are rejected under 35 USC 112(b), for their dependency upon claim 1. Citation of Pertinent Prior Art The prior art are made of record and not relied upon but considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure: 1. Nauen et al., US 2021/0165078 A1, discloses a distance measuring unit for measuring a distance on the basis of a signal time-of-flight. 2. Tsai et. al., US 2021/0124019 A1, discloses an optical delivery and optical receiving system in the field of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR). 3. Marro; Joseph, US 2016/0266243 A1, discloses laser detection and ranging, and, more particularly, to frequency-modulated laser detection and ranging. 4. KJELLMAN et al., EP 3971614, discloses a system for determining a range of a scene. 5. Oggier et al., US 2024/0288549, discloses Range sensing apparatus includes a transmitter including an array of emitters configured to emit respective beams of coherent optical radiation and switching circuitry coupled to the emitters. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MD NAZMUL HAQUE whose telephone number is (571)272-5328. The examiner can normally be reached IFW. 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, David Czekaj can be reached at 5712727327. 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. /MD N HAQUE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2487
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 19, 2025
Application Filed
Oct 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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2y 3m to grant Granted Sep 22, 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
99%
With Interview (+15.4%)
2y 6m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 669 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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