Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/107,501

PATTERN FORMING METHOD AND BAKING DEVICE

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Feb 27, 2025
Priority
Aug 30, 2022 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2022032513
Examiner
MUSSER, BARBARA J
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Komori Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
71%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 8m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 71% — above average
71%
Career Allowance Rate
599 granted / 844 resolved
+11.0% vs TC avg
Strong +27% interview lift
Without
With
+27.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
876
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
78.5%
+38.5% vs TC avg
§102
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§112
14.4%
-25.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 844 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Okumura et al.(JP 2020-119915) as evidenced by Specific Heat Capacity of Metals Table Chart(www.engineersedge.com/materials/specific_heat_capacity_of_metals_13259.htm), Density of metals(www.theworldmaterial.com/density-of-metals/) and Thermal Conductivity of Metals and Alloys: data table(www.engineeringtoolbox.com/thermal-conductivity-metals-d_858.html) in view of JP 2022529360A. Okumura et al. discloses a method and apparatus for fixing a resin substrate which has a conductive paste on it onto a support(64) and baking it to form a conductive pattern. The support can be copper(machine translation) While the reference does not disclose the specific heat capacity or thermal conductivity, Specific Heat Capacity of Metals Table Chart discloses that the specific heat capacity of copper is 376 J/(kg K) and Density of metals discloses that copper has a density of 8930 kg/m3, which means copper has a thermal capacity of 376*8930/1000 or 3357 kJ/m3K. Thermal Conductivity of Metals teaches that copper as a thermal conductivity of at least 300 W/mK. Both of these meet applicant’s claimed range. Therefore Okumura et al. teaches a fixing plate with a thermal capacity of 3000 kJ/m3K or more and a thermal conductivity of 45 W/mK or more. The reference does not disclose the specific type of heat used. JP 2022529360A discloses that using near infrared can result in a pattern on materials that cannot withstand conventional sintering and which can be sintered in seconds.(machine translation) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill at the time of filing to use near infrared heating in Okumura et al. as taught by JP 2022529360A since this is faster than other types of sintering and allows use of substrates which cannot withstand conventional sintering. A plate is considered to be a thin flat strip. Regarding claims 2 and 6, JP 2022529360A discloses the near infrared is in the range of 780-2500nm.(0.78-2.5 microns) Regarding claims 3, 4, and 7-12, Okumura et al. discloses the substate is fixed to the support using an adhesive.(machine translation) Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BARBARA J MUSSER whose telephone number is (571)272-1222. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30-4:30 M-Th; 7:30-3:30 second Fridays. 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, Michael Orlando can be reached at 571-270-5038. 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. BARBARA J. MUSSER Primary Examiner Art Unit 1746 /BARBARA J MUSSER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1746
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 27, 2025
Application Filed
Jun 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (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
71%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+27.2%)
3y 0m (~1y 8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 844 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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