Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 19/077,058

CONTROLLER FOR FORCED-INDUCTION ENGINE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Mar 12, 2025
Priority
Mar 14, 2024 — JP 2024-039989
Examiner
MO, XIAO EN
Art Unit
3747
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Toyota Motor Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
298 granted / 369 resolved
+10.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+5.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
381
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.0%
-34.0% vs TC avg
§103
42.6%
+2.6% vs TC avg
§102
28.2%
-11.8% vs TC avg
§112
20.0%
-20.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 369 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION This Office Action is in response to the communication(s) filed on 3/12/2025. 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 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 1-4 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. Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) because of the recitation of “a first ventilation passage that connects a crankcase to a portion of the intake passage” in claim 1. It is unclear as to whether a portion of the intake passage downstream of the compressor is the same portion of the intake passage where the throttle valve is disposed or if it is another portion/ a second portion, leaving the metes and bounds of the claims unclear. Additionally, claim 1, recites “a second ventilation passage that connects a crankcase to a portion of the intake passage”. It is unclear as to whether a portion of the intake passage is the same portion as above or if it is a third portion, leaving the metes and bounds of the claims unclear. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XIAO EN MO whose telephone number is (571)272-9970. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9-5:30 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, Logan Kraft can be reached at 571-270-5065. 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. /XIAO EN MO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 12, 2025
Application Filed
Jul 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12693891
TASK CONTEXT SWITCH FOR NEURAL PROCESSOR CIRCUIT
1y 7m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12673653
BRAKE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME
1y 7m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12662982
FUEL PUMP
2y 0m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12650090
HOUSING COMPONENT FOR A PRECHAMBER COMPONENT OF A COMBUSTION ENGINE
2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Patent 12649512
STEERING CONTROL DEVICE AND STEERING CONTROL METHOD
1y 10m to grant Granted Jun 09, 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
81%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+5.9%)
2y 1m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 369 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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