Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 19/462,203

Method for determining a RFID backscatter link frequency and RFID tag

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jan 28, 2026
Priority
Jan 29, 2025 — EU 25154770.9
Examiner
GUDORF, LAURA A
Art Unit
2876
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
NXP Semiconductors N.V.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 4m
Est. Remaining
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
728 granted / 899 resolved
+13.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+12.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
907
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
§103
52.1%
+12.1% vs TC avg
§102
22.3%
-17.7% vs TC avg
§112
14.0%
-26.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 899 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION Summary The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . This is a first Office Action on the merits. Claims 16-35 are currently pending. Claim Objections Claims 16, 24, 27, and 30 are objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 16, line 14, please amend “the determined divide ratio as applicable counter” to recite “the determined divide ratio as an applicable counter”; In claim 16, line 15, please amend “storing the current counter value of the applicable counted as BLF indicator value” to recite “storing a current counter value of the applicable counter as a BLF indicator value”; In claim 24, line 19, please amend “determined divide ratio as applicable counter” to recite “determined divide ratio as an applicable counter”; In claim 24, line 20, please amend “storing the current counter value of the applicable counter as BLF indicator value” to recite “storing a current counter value of the applicable counter as a BLF indicator value”; In claim 27, line 2, please add a colon to the end of the line; In claim 30, line 16, please amend “the determined divide ratio as applicable counter” to recite “the determined divide ratio as an applicable counter”; In claim 30, line 17, please amend “storing the current counter value of the applicable counter as BLF indicator value” to recite “storing a current counter value of the applicable counter as a BLF indicator value”; Appropriate correction is required. 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 16-35 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. Claim 16, line 12, recites the limitation “determining the divide ratio”. It is unclear if the divide ratio being determined in line 12 is referring to either of the first divide ratio and the second divide ratio as recited in line 8 of the claim. For purposes of examination, “determining the divide ratio” has been interpreted as “determining one of the first divide ratio and the second divide ratio as a determined divide ratio”. Claim 16, line 13, recites the limitation “the counter associated with the determined divide ratio”. It is unclear whether “the counter” refers to “the first counter” or “the second counter”. For purposes of examination, “selecting, from the first and the second counter, the counter associated with the determined divide ratio” has been interpreted as “selecting the first counter as an applicable counter when the determined divide ratio is the first divide ratio, and selecting the second counter as the applicable counter when the determined divide ratio is the second divide ratio”. Claim 24, line 12, recites the limitation “determining the divide ratio”. It is unclear if the divide ratio being determined in line 12 is referring to either of the first divide ratio and the second divide ratio as recited in line 8 of the claim. For purposes of examination, “determining the divide ratio” has been interpreted as “determining one of the first divide ratio and the second divide ratio as a determined divide ratio”. Claim 24, line 18, recites the limitation “the counter associated with the determined divide ratio”. It is unclear whether “the counter” refers to “the first counter” or “the second counter”. For purposes of examination, “selecting, from the first and the second counter, the counter associated with the determined divide ratio” has been interpreted as “selecting the first counter as an applicable counter when the determined divide ratio is the first divide ratio, and selecting the second counter as the applicable counter when the determined divide ratio is the second divide ratio”. Claim 30, line 12, recites the limitation “determining the divide ratio”. It is unclear if the divide ratio being determined in line 12 is referring to either of the first divide ratio and the second divide ratio as recited in line 8 of the claim. For purposes of examination, “determining the divide ratio” has been interpreted as “determining one of the first divide ratio and the second divide ratio as a determined divide ratio”. Claim 30, line 15, recites the limitation “the counter associated with the determined divide ratio”. It is unclear whether “the counter” refers to “the first counter” or “the second counter”. For purposes of examination, “selecting, from the first and the second counter, the counter associated with the determined divide ratio” has been interpreted as “selecting the first counter as an applicable counter when the determined divide ratio is the first divide ratio, and selecting the second counter as the applicable counter when the determined divide ratio is the second divide ratio”; Claims 17-23, 25-29, and 30-35 are rejected by dependence. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: KIM, KR 101133140, teaches a method and apparatus for obtaining backscatter link frequency from an RFID tag [0024]-[0052]. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAURA A GUDORF whose telephone number is (571)270-7607. If the Examiner cannot be reached by telephone, she can be reached through the following e-mail address: laura.gudorf@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 6:00-4:00 PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Thomas Pham, can be reached at telephone number (571)272-3689. 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 Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center for authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to Patent Center, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). 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) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form. /LAURA A GUDORF/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 28, 2026
Application Filed
Aug 26, 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
81%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+12.1%)
2y 0m (~1y 4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 899 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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