Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 22, 2026
Application No. 19/336,840

ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING SYSTEM, METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A SYSTEM AND VEHICLE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 23, 2025
Priority
Nov 12, 2024 — DE 102024133089.9
Examiner
MO, XIAO EN
Art Unit
3747
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Audi AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
300 granted / 372 resolved
+10.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
390
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.9%
-34.1% vs TC avg
§103
42.5%
+2.5% vs TC avg
§102
28.4%
-11.6% vs TC avg
§112
19.9%
-20.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 372 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION This Office Action is in response to the communication(s) filed on 9/23/2025. 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 § 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 1-18 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. Claims 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) because of the recitation of “configured to activate the assistance device in the emergency or dangerous situation”. It is unclear as to what is considered as an emergency or dangerous situation. The specification does not appear to provide clarification of what constitutes as an emergency or dangerous situation, leaving the metes and bounds of the claims unclear. Additionally “the emergency or dangerous situation” lacks antecedent basis, it appears the applicant may have intended to claim “an emergency or dangerous situation”. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XIAO EN MO whose telephone number is (571)272-9970. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9-5:30 EST. 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, Logan Kraft can be reached at 571-270-5065. 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. /XIAO EN MO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 23, 2025
Application Filed
Oct 23, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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1y 7m to grant Granted Oct 06, 2026
Patent 12748962
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1y 8m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12736020
ENGINE SYSTEM COMPONENTS INCLUDING CATALYTIC COATINGS AND RELATED APPARATUSES, METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND TECHNIQUES
1y 6m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
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1y 7m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
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1y 4m to grant Granted Sep 08, 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
81%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+6.0%)
2y 1m (~1y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 372 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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