Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology area: Transportation, E-Commerce & Mechanical Systems
142 pending office actions • 59 art units • 127 examiners • 0 of 142 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 443 patents granted in the last 365 days
Caterpillar Inc. maintains a large portfolio with 143 pending office actions in the Transportation, E-Commerce & Mechanical Systems technology area. These actions are spread across 127 distinct examiners, indicating a broad distribution of the workload. The prosecution involves 60 distinct art units, which reflects the variety of technical classifications within the company's mechanical and transportation innovations. PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC is the busiest examiner for this portfolio, currently managing 3 pending office actions. This number for the busiest examiner, compared to the total of 143 pending office actions, highlights the decentralized nature of the company's patent filings.
With 127 distinct examiners involved, the company must navigate a high volume of individual examiner preferences and styles. The 60 distinct art units suggest that the company's intellectual property strategy covers many different functional areas. Managing 143 pending office actions requires significant coordination across these various USPTO divisions. Practitioners should note that the 127 distinct examiners provide a diverse range of perspectives on the company's technology. The concentration of 3 pending office actions with PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC is the only minor point of examiner overlap. This broad distribution across the 60 distinct art units indicates a complex and multifaceted prosecution landscape.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 38 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date; the rest are excluded from the tile counts.
Every pending office action with a known statutory deadline, placed on a days-until-due axis. Dots left of Today are overdue; the further right, the more runway. Cases that share a deadline window stack vertically. 38 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date.
Difficulty is derived from the rejection statutes on the most recent pending office action. §101-driven and multi-statute cases are graded Hard; §112-only and obviousness-type double-patenting cases are graded Easy; everything else is Medium. "Unknown" means we have not yet parsed a statute for that office action.
| Bucket | Cases |
|---|---|
| §101 only | 7 (5%) |
| §101 + other | 11 (8%) |
| §103 only | 52 (37%) |
| §102 only | 9 (6%) |
| §112 only | 1 (1%) |
| Double-patenting only | 1 (1%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 3 (2%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 58 (41%) |
How the docket's pending cases split across USPTO tech-center bands.
Manual office-action response work runs about 10 hours per case. The time-saved bands below show what IP Author's prosecution pipeline typically delivers — a conservative 20% on the low end, 35% in the middle, 50% on the high end.
| Examiner | Apps on this docket | Allow rate | Interview lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC | 3 | 85.2% | +10.1% |
| TSUI, ALFRED H | 3 | 32.7% | +32.8% |
| BELLINGER, JASON R | 3 | 69.9% | +18.8% |
| KNUTSON, JACOB D | 2 | 79.6% | +20.6% |
| BEHRENS, ADAM J | 2 | 77.3% | +12.1% |
| ANWARI, MACEEH | 2 | 81.2% | +5.8% |
| SULTANA, DILARA | 2 | 81.0% | +15.8% |
| KHALED, ABDALLA A | 2 | 73.0% | +20.9% |
| PELTON, NATHANIEL R | 2 | 74.5% | +19.0% |
| KURTZ, BENJAMIN M | 2 | 56.8% | +17.6% |
Cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate of 80%+ where the difficulty is Easy or Medium. The top 3 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18178100 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A COMBINATION OF SENSOR MODALITIES BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS | SULTANA, DILARA | 69d |
| 18769486 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING PERCEPTION DEVICES IN MOBILE MACHINES | ANWARI, MACEEH | — |
| 18588556 | Electrical Power System for Earthmoving Machine | ANWARI, MACEEH | — |
Multi-statute / §101-driven matters, or cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate under 30%. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17153648 | Cryogenic Containment System | PETTITT, JOHN F | 323d overdue |
| 17117153 | HYBRID ENSEMBLE APPROACH FOR IOT PREDICTIVE MODELLING | ALGHAZZY, SHAMCY | 107d overdue |
| 17519477 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UNDERCARRIAGE WEAR PREDICTION | CHAVEZ, ANTHONY RAY | 46d overdue |
| 18480861 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL MACHINE PERFORMANCE DURING AUTONOMOUS OPERATION | KHALED, ABDALLA A | 36d overdue |
| 18499921 | WEAR INFORMING SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS OF USE | TURNER, SHELBY AUBURN | 16d overdue |
| 18540559 | SNOW WING LINKAGE | TSUI, ALFRED H | 8d overdue |
| 18736161 | DOOR CLOSING SYSTEM OF AN ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM | MORFORD, ALEXANDRA ROBYN | 4d overdue |
| 18156097 | SERVICE COVER FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVING FILTER ELEMENTS OF A FILTER ASSEMBLY | HE, QIANPING | 4d overdue |
Cases in front of an examiner whose interview lift is 10 percentage points or more — i.e. interviewed cases historically resolve more favorably than non-interviewed ones. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18480861 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL MACHINE PERFORMANCE DURING AUTONOMOUS OPERATION | KHALED, ABDALLA A | 36d overdue |
| 18540559 | SNOW WING LINKAGE | TSUI, ALFRED H | 8d overdue |
| 18119885 | ULTRA-DEEP INDUCTION HARDENING FOR TRACK PADS | BELLINGER, JASON R | 6d |
| 18178100 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A COMBINATION OF SENSOR MODALITIES BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS | SULTANA, DILARA | 69d |
| 18470692 | CORNER SEGMENT | TSUI, ALFRED H | 75d |
| 19070675 | SCALLOP-RESISTANT TRACK LINK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME | KNUTSON, JACOB D | — |
| 19070662 | SCALLOP-RESISTANT TRACK LINK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME | KNUTSON, JACOB D | — |
| 18891080 | BUCKET LIP HAVING WEAR CAP RETENTION FEATURE | BEHRENS, ADAM J | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3671 | 12 |
| 3663 | 7 |
| 3763 | 5 |
| 2858 | 5 |
| 3675 | 4 |
| 3615 | 4 |
| 2857 | 4 |
| 3669 | 3 |
| 3662 | 2 |
| 3752 | 2 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19469817 | Recovery Of Electric Work Vehicles | ELARABI, TAREK A | 3661 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 26, 2025 |
| 19296668 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING WORK PLAN FOR AUTONOMOUS OPERATION OF COMPACTOR | ALQADERI, NADA MAHYOOB | — | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 11, 2025 |
| 19083480 | SEAL MEMBER FOR JOINT ASSEMBLY OF A MACHINE AND SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND ASSEMBLIES THEREOF | KONERU, LAKSHMI S | 3675 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 19, 2025 |
| 19070675 | SCALLOP-RESISTANT TRACK LINK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME | KNUTSON, JACOB D | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 05, 2025 |
| 19070662 | SCALLOP-RESISTANT TRACK LINK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME | KNUTSON, JACOB D | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 05, 2025 |
| 19053358 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING MACHINE STATE | KINGSLAND, KYLE J | 3663 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 13, 2025 |
| 19051814 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DRILLING MACHINES | WALLACE, KIPP CHARLES | 3674 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 12, 2025 |
| 19099873 | Hydraulic Actuator for Work Machine | NGUYEN, DUSTIN T | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 30, 2025 |
| 18992110 | Wear Pad Assembly | TRAN, DIEM M | 3654 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 07, 2025 |
| 18980169 | CAUSING A BATTERY OF A MACHINE TO ENTER INTO A CHARGING STATE | SEOL, DAVIN | 3662 | §103 | Final Rejection | 86d | Pending | Dec 13, 2024 |
| 18965196 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODIFYING A NON-ELECTRIC MACHINE TO BE AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID ELECTRIC MACHINE | ALAM, NAEEM TASLIM | 3668 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 02, 2024 |
| 18945682 | RETENTION COMPONENT ASSEMBLY FOR WORK TOOL | BREGEL, EVAN ANTHONY | 3671 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 13, 2024 |
| 18933251 | WING SHROUD FOR BUCKET LIP AND BUCKET LIP ASSEMBLY USING SAME | MITCHELL, JOEL F | 3671 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 31, 2024 |
| 18927250 | System and Method for Maintaining Working Temperature of Circuit Breakers | AL-TAWEEL, MUAAMAR QAHTAN | — | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Oct 25, 2024 |
| 18924517 | MASTER LINK END FOR MASTER LINK ASSEMBLY AND RELATED METHODS | PALMER, ALEX ROBERT | 3615 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 23, 2024 |
| 18920504 | Systems and Methods for Cooling a Secondary Battery Used for Underground Mining Machines | FURDGE, LARRY L | 3763 | §103§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 18, 2024 |
| 18907093 | MANAGEMENT OF MACHINE OPERATION SAFETY ZONES | CHOI, ALICIA M | 2117 | §101 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 04, 2024 |
| 18897984 | DUAL FUEL INJECTOR AND METHOD | SUTHERLAND, STEVEN M | 3752 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 26, 2024 |
| 18891462 | DYNAMIC CONTROL STRATEGY FOR TWO-LEVEL DC-DC CONVERTERS | GBLENDE, JEFFREY A | 2838 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 20, 2024 |
| 18891080 | BUCKET LIP HAVING WEAR CAP RETENTION FEATURE | BEHRENS, ADAM J | 3671 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 20, 2024 |
| 18891067 | BUCKET LIP HAVING SHROUD STATIONS FOR MULTI-DIRECTIONAL LOAD SUPPORT | BEHRENS, ADAM J | 3671 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 20, 2024 |
| 18891065 | BUCKET LIP AND BUCKET LIP ASSEMBLY FOR MACHINE HAVING LIP WINGS | PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC | 3671 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 20, 2024 |
| 18891054 | BUCKET LIP AND BUCKET FOR MACHINE HAVING SEGMENTED INTEGRAL BEAM | PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC | 3671 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 20, 2024 |
| 18888623 | Quick Tool Coupler System | TIGHE, BRENDAN P | 3652 | §101 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 18, 2024 |
| 18821323 | Cooling Arrangement for Conditioning Cabins of Work Machines | BRADFORD, JONATHAN | 3763 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Aug 30, 2024 |
| 18814739 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HEATING CABINS OF WORK MACHINES | NOUKETCHA, LIONEL W | — | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 26, 2024 |
| 18792989 | MODULAR AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY | LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M | 1776 | §102Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 02, 2024 |
| 18792974 | MODULAR AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY | BUI, DUNG H | 1773 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 02, 2024 |
| 18787482 | Cooling Arrangement for an Electric Charger System | DELEON, DARIO ANTONIO | 3763 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 29, 2024 |
| 18833311 | Roof Support Unit for a Mining Machine | TOLEDO-DURAN, EDWIN J | 3678 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 25, 2024 |
| 18777714 | WEAR SLEEVE AND LIP SEAL POSITIONABLE UPON A MACHINE COMPONENT | BYRD, EUGENE G | 3675 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 19, 2024 |
| 18771808 | SYNTHETIC AUDIO FEEDBACK FOR MACHINE IMPLEMENT CONTROL | BREWER, JACK ROBERT | 3663 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 63d | Pending | Jul 12, 2024 |
| 18771488 | CONDUITS FOR FEEDING AIR TO SMALL BEARINGS OF JOURNAL AREA OF ROTARY DRILL BIT | QUAIM, LAMIA | 3676 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 28d overdue | Pending | Jul 12, 2024 |
| 18769486 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING PERCEPTION DEVICES IN MOBILE MACHINES | ANWARI, MACEEH | 3663 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 11, 2024 |
| 18763352 | Electrical Powertrain System for Mobile Crushers | WIBLIN, MATTHEW | 3745 | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 03, 2024 |
| 18724735 | Longwall Shearer Positioning Method, Pan for Panline, Longwall Shearer System | COY, NICOLE A | 3672 | §101§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 27, 2024 |
| 18751648 | BATTERY PACK CONTACT BREAK DETECTION | MONSUR, NASIMA | 2858 | §101§102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 7d | Pending | Jun 24, 2024 |
| 18738983 | REDUCED POWERTRAIN LOAD ON BATTERY CONTACTOR | BARNETT, JOEL | 2849 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 10, 2024 |
| 18736832 | ELECTRICAL INTERFACE SYSTEM | LIN, CHENG XI | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 07, 2024 |
| 18736161 | DOOR CLOSING SYSTEM OF AN ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM | MORFORD, ALEXANDRA ROBYN | 3658 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 4d overdue | Pending | Jun 06, 2024 |
| 18680695 | GROUND FAULT DETECTION TECHNIQUES IN MOBILE MACHINES | BARRON, JEREMIAH JOHN | 2858 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 28d | Pending | May 31, 2024 |
| 18678421 | Perception-Based Worksite Control System | TAN, OLIVER E | 3669 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 30, 2024 |
| 18671029 | OPTIMIZATION OF PARALLEL DC-DC EFFICIENCY ON A BATTERY ELECTRIC MACHINE | PATEL, JIGNESHKUMAR C | — | §102 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | May 22, 2024 |
| 18670462 | Spatial Localization Imaging System | DOROS, KAYLA RENEE | 3657 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 21, 2024 |
| 18664249 | FUEL CELL LOAD SPLIT MANAGEMENT | AMRANY, ADI | — | §101§102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 14, 2024 |
| 18663143 | SYSTEM AND MOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACCESSING MACHINE SEAT CONTROLS | SAEED, AHMED M | 2831 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 14, 2024 |
| 18658773 | Machine Sensor Configuration System | SULTANA, DILARA | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 08, 2024 |
| 18656464 | BATTERY PACK PRE-CHARGING | DHAKAL, BICKEY | 2896 | §101§102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 06, 2024 |
| 18652510 | Apparatus for Locating Hardware | COURSON, TANIA C | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 01, 2024 |
| 18650561 | FUEL INJECTOR HAVING NOZZLE CHECK WITH TRANSFER HOLES ORIENTED FOR REDUCED MIXING OF TWO FUELS | REINBOLD, SCOTT A | 3747 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 22d | Pending | Apr 30, 2024 |
IP Author helps IP teams respond to office actions faster with AI-generated responses, examiner analytics, and prosecution intelligence.
Start Free TrialCaterpillar Inc. has 142 pending office actions as of October 2026, spread across 59 art units and 127 examiners.
Robert Eric Pezzuto has the most, with 3 of Caterpillar Inc.'s pending office actions.
Mostly Transportation, E-Commerce & Mechanical Systems (USPTO Tech Center 3600), based on where its pending office actions are examined.