Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 22, 2026
Application No. 19/085,578

SWITCHING DRIVERS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Mar 20, 2025
Priority
Jun 03, 2024 — provisional 63/655,213 +1 more
Examiner
HERNANDEZ, WILLIAM
Art Unit
2849
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
94%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 94% — above average
94%
Career Allowance Rate
904 granted / 963 resolved
+25.9% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 7m
Avg Prosecution
10 currently pending
Career history
978
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.6%
-38.4% vs TC avg
§103
12.9%
-27.1% vs TC avg
§102
36.9%
-3.1% vs TC avg
§112
36.7%
-3.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 963 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 Claims 4, 9, 10, 12, and 13 are objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 4, line 21 of the page, “the voltage supply state” should read --the supply voltage state--. In claim 9, line 20 of the page, “aligned in time in” should read --aligned in time within--. In claim 10, line 28 of the page, “the voltage supply state” should read --the supply voltage state--. In claim 12, lines 28-29 of the page, “is configured” should be deleted. In claim 13, line 8 of the page, “wherein said set of comprises” should read --wherein said set of states comprises --. In claim 13, line 27 of the page, “and instance” should read --and an instance--. In claim 13, lines 1-2 of page 6, “an charge transfer switching cycle” should read --a charge transfer switching cycle--. 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 6-9, 11, 14, and 20 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 6 recites the limitation "the compensating phase-shifts" in lines 1-2 of the page. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 8 recites the limitation "the energy transfer period" in lines 15 and 17 of the page. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 9 recites the limitation "the switching period" in lines 20-21 of the page. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 11 recites the limitation "a drive capacitor connected between the first capacitor node," in lines 32-33 of the page [emphasis added]. It is not clear what is meant by this limitation since it appears to be incomplete, thus rendering the claim indefinite. Claim 11 recites the limitation "the second capacitor node" in lines 33 of page 3 and line 1 of page 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 14 recites the limitation "the energy transfer switching cycle" in line 8 of the page. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 20 recites the limitation "a drive capacitor connected between the first capacitor node," in lines 11-12 of the page [emphasis added]. It is not clear what is meant by this limitation since it appears to be incomplete, thus rendering the claim indefinite. Claim 20 recites the limitation "the second capacitor node" in lines 12-13 of the page. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 7 is rejected for inheriting the indefiniteness of parent claim 6. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-5, 10, 12, 13, 15-19 are presently allowed. Claims 6-9, 11, 14, and 20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Hoyerby’s (USPAP 2013/0223651) Fig. 4 teaches a switching driver for a transducer with floating capacitors. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM HERNANDEZ whose telephone number is (571)272-8979. The examiner can normally be reached Mon to Fri; 10am to 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, Taelor Kim can be reached at (571) 270-7166. 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. /WILLIAM HERNANDEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 20, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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1y 11m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
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1y 4m to grant Granted Sep 15, 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
94%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+4.1%)
1y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 963 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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