Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/440,262

ACTIVATABLE RF TAGS WITH VARIABLE READ RANGE

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
Jan 05, 2026
Priority
Oct 25, 2024 — continuation of 12/518,122
Examiner
TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
Art Unit
2876
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Zebra Technologies Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 11m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
551 granted / 700 resolved
+10.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
719
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
§103
44.8%
+4.8% vs TC avg
§102
24.7%
-15.3% vs TC avg
§112
6.2%
-33.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 700 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
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 . This office action is responsive to the application filed 01/05/2026. The preliminary amendment filed 01/05/2026 is acknowledged. Acknowledgement is made that this application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 18/927,373 filed 10/25/2024, which issued as U.S. Patent No. 12,518,122. Claim Status Claim 1 has been presented in original form. Claims 2-28 have been cancelled. Claim 1 is currently pending in the application. Drawings The drawings were received on 01/05/2026. These drawings are acceptable. Specification The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification. Claim Objections Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 1, substitute "RF" with -- radio frequency (RF) --; in lines 17 and 19, respectively, insert "nonconductive" before "frangible shell"; and in line 22, substitute "the frangible shells" with - the nonconductive frangible shell of the plurality of microcapsules --. Appropriate correction is required. Double Patenting A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957). A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101. Claim 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claim 1 of prior U.S. Patent No. 12,518,122. This is a statutory double patenting rejection. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Collins et al. (US 8,228,172) discloses a RFID tag device with a temperature sensitive antenna. Haarer et al. (US 9,011,794) discloses a time temperature indicator. Bhatia et al. (US 10,628,726) discloses switchable RFID antennas responsive to an environmental sensor. Rigby et al. (US 12,196,733) discloses a freshness sensor device. Prusik et al. (US 2014/0044609) discloses a dual-function heat indicator. Karchin et al. (US 2020/0221972) discloses a RFID tag and reader system. Olson et al. (US 2022/0283041) discloses an activatable warming indicator. Huffman et al. (US 2024/0068886) discloses a temperature exposure indicator. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to APRIL A TAYLOR whose telephone number is (571)272-2403. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday between 9am-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, STEVEN S PAIK can be reached at 571-272-2404. 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. /APRIL A TAYLOR/Examiner, Art Unit 2876 /THIEN M LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 05, 2026
Application Filed
Jun 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101 (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
87%
With Interview (+8.6%)
2y 6m (~1y 11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 700 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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