Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 19/130,165

ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CIRCULAR POLYCRYSTALLINE COLLOIDAL MONOLAYER TETHERED ON A SOLID SUBSTRATE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
May 15, 2025
Priority
Nov 23, 2022 — EU 22306729.9 +1 more
Examiner
MULVANEY, ELIZABETH EVANS
Art Unit
1785
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 2m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
868 granted / 1105 resolved
+13.6% vs TC avg
Strong +15% interview lift
Without
With
+15.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
1126
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
54.4%
+14.4% vs TC avg
§102
15.5%
-24.5% vs TC avg
§112
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1105 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 . Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. 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 19, 21, 22, 26, 27 and 34 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. The claims all include the language “preferably” which indicates a broad range or broadly defined material followed by a more specific and narrow range or narrowly defined material. Which is being claimed? Clarification is required. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 18, 20, 23-25 and 28-33 are allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The claims are indicated allowable because the prior art does not teach or suggest an assembly, comprising: at least one circular polycrystalline colloidal monolayer tethered on a solid substrate; wherein the at least one circular polycrystalline colloidal monolayer comprises at least one type of uniformly sized particles arranged into juxtaposed single-crystal domains which are different from one another and which are randomly oriented with respect to one another; the diameter of said circular polycrystalline colloidal monolayer ranging from 0.25 to 2.5 mm, nor the method for preparing an assembly as defined in claim 18, comprising the following steps: a) preparing an aqueous dispersion (A) comprising: at least one type of anionic colloidal particles having an average diameter ranging from 100 nm to 10 µm and having a dispersity of less than 5% of said diameter, at least one cationic surfactant in a concentration ranging from CMC/10000 to CMC/100, where CMC is the critical micelle concentration of the at least one cationic surfactant, and an aqueous medium; b) depositing at least one drop of the aqueous dispersion (A) prepared in step a) on the upper face of a solid substrate, the volume of the at least one drop being lower than or equal to 15 µL; c) protecting the upper face of the solid substrate obtained in step b) from air flow and flipping upside-down said solid substrate; d) maintaining the solid substrate in the upside-down position to let the at least one drop of the aqueous dispersion (A) evaporate; and then e) optionally, flipping right side up the solid substrate obtained in step d). The closest prior art, JP 4371677, discloses a color sheet comprising a monolayer of particles formed after applying a suspension. The color sheet displays a color pattern. However, there is no disclosure of juxtaposed single-crystal domains which are randomly oriented with respect to one another. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ELIZABETH EVANS MULVANEY whose telephone number is (571)272-1527. The examiner can normally be reached 8am-4:30pm M-F. 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, Mark Ruthkosky can be reached at 571-272-1291. 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. /ELIZABETH E MULVANEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1785
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Prosecution Timeline

May 15, 2025
Application Filed
Mar 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

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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
79%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+15.3%)
2y 2m (~1y 2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1105 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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