Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/188,856

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE A CURRENT LOAD PITCH ANGLE OF A VEHICLE FOR AUTOMATIC HEADLAMP RANGE ADJUSTMENT

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 24, 2025
Priority
Apr 29, 2024 — DE 102024111960.8
Examiner
SOOFI, YAZAN A
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Ford Motor Company
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
736 granted / 827 resolved
+29.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
838
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.4%
-34.6% vs TC avg
§103
49.8%
+9.8% vs TC avg
§102
40.0%
+0.0% vs TC avg
§112
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 827 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 Status of Claims Claims 1-20 of U.S. Application No. 19/188856 filed on 04/24/2025 have been examined. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim 1-20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Gocke et al. [DE 102019125572 A1], hereinafter referred to as Gocke. As to Claim 1 and 14, Gocke discloses a method to adjust a headlamp of a vehicle comprising: capturing data from a sensor during a first time interval ([see at least 0009, 0022, 0043 and 0046]); based on the data, determining whether a load of the vehicle has changed ([see at least 0003 and 0010]); if the load of the vehicle has not changed during the first time interval, determining an averaged pitch angle of the vehicle, wherein determining the averaged pitch angle includes averaging the data captured during the first time interval ([see at least 0003, 0010, 0015, 0024, 0036 and 0037]); determining a load pitch angle based on the determined averaged pitch angle ([see at least 0003, 0010, 0015, 0024, 0036 and 0037]); and adjusting a position of the headlamp of the vehicle based on the load pitch angle ([see at least 0036]). As to Claim 2, Gocke discloses a method, further including discarding the averaged pitch angle after a change in the load of the vehicle is detected after a start and before an end of the first time interval ([see at least 0003 and 0010]). As to Claim 3, Gocke discloses a method, further including restarting the first time interval after a change in the load of the vehicle is detected after a start and before an end of the first time interval ([see at least 0003 and 0010]) As to Claim 4, Gocke discloses a method, further including capturing a parameter indicating a change in the load of the vehicle, wherein the parameter indicating the change in the load of the vehicle corresponds to at least one of: a gravitation angle; an operating condition of at least one of a window, a door, or a tailgate; an operating condition of a seat belt; an operating condition of a trailer coupling; an operating condition of a parking brake; or an operating condition of at least one of a passenger compartment or a luggage compartment of the vehicle ([see at least 0007, 0009, 0018, 0024 and 0027]). As to Claim 5, Gocke discloses a method, wherein the sensor includes a camera ([see at least 0021, 0034 and 0035]). As to Claim 6, Gocke discloses a method comprising: determining a setting position of the headlamp; determining a current load pitch angle of the vehicle; determining a load of the vehicle; after a load of the vehicle has changed during a first time interval, determining a deviation of the current load pitch angle of the vehicle from the setting position; and adjusting a position of the headlamp based on the deviation ([see at least 0003, 0010, 0015, 0024, 0036 and 0037]). As to Claim 7, Gocke discloses a method, further including restarting the first time interval after the change in the load during the first time interval ([see at least 0003, 0010, 0015, 0024, 0036 and 0037]). As to Claim 8, Gocke discloses a method, wherein determining the load of the vehicle includes determining a change in a gravitation angle ([see at least 0007, 0009, 0018, 0024 and 0027]). As to Claim 9 and 18, Gocke discloses a method, wherein determining the load of the vehicle includes determining a change in an operating condition of at least one of a window, a door, or a tailgate of the vehicle ([see at least 0013 and 0017]). As to Claim 10 and 17, Gocke discloses a method, wherein determining the load of the vehicle includes determining a change in an operating condition of a seat belt of the vehicle ([see at least 0018, 0023 and 0035]). As to Claim 11 and 20, Gocke discloses a method, wherein determining the load of the vehicle includes determining a change in an operating condition of a trailer coupling of the vehicle ([see at least 0003 and 0010]). As to Claim 12 and 19, Gocke discloses a method, wherein determining the load of the vehicle includes determining a change in an operating condition of a parking brake of the vehicle ([see at least 0004 and 0012]). As to Claim 13 and 16, Gocke discloses a method, wherein determining the load of the vehicle includes determining a change in an operating condition of at least one of a passenger compartment or a luggage compartment of the vehicle ([see at least 0018, 0019, 0023, 0024 and 0010]). As to Claim 15, Gocke discloses a apparatus, wherein the second device includes at least one gravitation sensor ([see at least 0010 and 0015]). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YAZAN A SOOFI whose telephone number is (469)295-9189. The examiner can normally be reached on Flex schedule. 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, Fadey Jabr can be reached on 572-272-1516. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /YAZAN A SOOFI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3668
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 24, 2025
Application Filed
Jun 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
89%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+11.3%)
2y 0m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 827 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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