Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 19/078,697

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING REMNANT VOLTAGE DURING FAST UPDATES IN ELECTROPHORETIC DISPLAYS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Mar 13, 2025
Priority
Mar 19, 2024 — provisional 63/567,299
Examiner
LIN, CHUN-NAN
Art Unit
2629
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
E Ink Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
573 granted / 658 resolved
+25.1% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+16.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
9 currently pending
Career history
671
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
74.5%
+34.5% vs TC avg
§102
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§112
20.2%
-19.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 658 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 . Claim Objections Claim 14 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 14 need to spell out what is “IGZO” because it is first time introduced the term. 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 - 22 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. Claim 1 recites “increase optical quality state” in line 14 and “an increase in optical quality state” in line 17. It is unclear how a “state” which isn’t a numerical quantity could be increased. Claim 15 has same issue as claim 1. Claims 2 – 14 and 16 – 22 have same issue because of claim dependency. Claim 15 recites “a projected remnant voltage” in line 16 and again recites “a projected remnant voltage” in line 26. It is unclear whether they refer to same or different projected remnant voltage. Claim 1 has same issue as claim 15. Claims 2 – 14, 16 – 22 have same issue because of claim dependency. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1, 15 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Claims 2 – 14, 16 - 22 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20220068229 A1 discloses electrooptic display driving method on abstract. US 20210389637 A1 discloses electrooptic display driving method on abstract. US 20210375183 A1 discloses electrooptic display driving method on abstract US 20100283804 A1 discloses waveform of electrooptic display driving method on abstract Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHUN-NAN LIN whose telephone number is (571)272-5646. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 6pm. 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, Benjamin C Lee can be reached at 571-2722963. 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. /CHUN-NAN LIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2629
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 13, 2025
Application Filed
Apr 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
87%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+16.0%)
1y 11m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 658 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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