Technology areas: Chemistry & Materials • Semiconductors, Circuits & Optics
32 pending office actions • 22 art units • 32 examiners • 0 of 32 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 67 patents granted in the last 365 days
Imec Vzw has 34 pending office actions in Semiconductors, Circuits & Optics. The matters involve 34 distinct examiners across 23 distinct art units, reflecting a highly distributed prosecution workload with wider examiner coverage than art-unit coverage.
QIAN, SHIZHI is the busiest examiner, with 1 pending matter. No examiner provides a central concentration point, so docket governance and systematic technical issue tracking are more important than relying on examiner-specific coordination.
The repeated art-unit assignments create an opportunity to compare treatment of related semiconductor, circuit, and optics claims within the same examination groups. Counsel should use those comparisons for planning while preserving arguments tailored to each individual record.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 13 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. 13 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 + other | 1 (3%) |
| §103 only | 11 (34%) |
| §102 only | 1 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 19 (59%) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| QIAN, SHIZHI | 1 | 62.0% | +46.2% |
| HIDALGO, FERNANDO N | 1 | 93.4% | +1.2% |
| PENG, CHARLIE YU | 1 | 75.5% | +13.1% |
| KEAGY, ROSE ALYSSA | 1 | 93.9% | +10.3% |
| CARTER, JONATHAN LANGDON | 1 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| PHILLIPS, RUFUS L | 1 | 62.7% | +32.5% |
| ANDERSON, WILLIAM H | 1 | 84.9% | +18.4% |
| XU, XIAOYUN | 1 | 59.9% | +31.6% |
| LEBRON DE JESUS, GRACIELA NATALIA | 1 | 31.3% | +70.9% |
| MANNAN, MIKAIL A | 1 | 68.3% | +24.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18010722 | A METHOD FOR COMPUTING A HOLOGRAPHIC INTERFERENCE PATTERN | CHANG, AUDREY Y | 117d overdue |
| 18065130 | Method for Forming a Semiconductor Device | KOO, LAMONT B | 60d overdue |
| 18324791 | MIXED METAL OXIDE INCLUDING MAGNESIUM AND ZINC | NGUYEN, CAM N | 19d |
| 18392429 | NANOPORE SENSING DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE SENSING LAYERS | VU, VU A | 62d |
| 18545730 | Tunneling Enabled Feedback FET | WALL, VINCENT | 75d |
| 18500642 | MAGNETORESISTIVE RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY DEVICE WITH IN-PLANE MAGNETIC LAYER | YUSHINA, GALINA G | 84d |
| 18920207 | 3D Ferroelectric Memory Structure and Method for Reading-Out the Memory Structure | HIDALGO, FERNANDO N | — |
| 18857608 | AN INTEGRATED ELECTRO-OPTICAL ABSORPTION MODULATOR | PENG, CHARLIE YU | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18969063 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRODES | QIAN, SHIZHI | — |
| 18857608 | AN INTEGRATED ELECTRO-OPTICAL ABSORPTION MODULATOR | PENG, CHARLIE YU | — |
| 18906994 | Method for Forming A Memory Structure for A 3D NAND Flash Memory | KEAGY, ROSE ALYSSA | — |
| 18808756 | LIGHT EXCITATION AND COLLECTION DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR LIGHT EXCITATION AND COLLECTION | PHILLIPS, RUFUS L | — |
| 18762318 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN INTERCONNECT VIA | ANDERSON, WILLIAM H | — |
| 18680062 | FLUID PROCESSING DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING AND PROCESSING DROPLETS | XU, XIAOYUN | — |
| 18666250 | REHABILITATION ROBOT OR EXOSKELETON AND COMPONENTS THEREOF | LEBRON DE JESUS, GRACIELA NATALIA | — |
| 18656921 | ARTIFICIAL IRIS, A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS, AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS, A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS, AND A METHOD FOR DETERMINING A USER-SPECIFIC PROFILE FOR AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS AND A METHOD FOR DETERMINING A USER-SPECIFIC PROFILE FOR AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS | MANNAN, MIKAIL A | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 2818 | 3 |
| 2874 | 2 |
| 2872 | 2 |
| 2813 | 2 |
| 1737 | 2 |
| 2828 | 2 |
| 2827 | 1 |
| 1713 | 1 |
| 2877 | 1 |
| 3785 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18969063 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRODES | QIAN, SHIZHI | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 04, 2024 |
| 18920207 | 3D Ferroelectric Memory Structure and Method for Reading-Out the Memory Structure | HIDALGO, FERNANDO N | 2827 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 18, 2024 |
| 18857608 | AN INTEGRATED ELECTRO-OPTICAL ABSORPTION MODULATOR | PENG, CHARLIE YU | 2874 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 17, 2024 |
| 18906994 | Method for Forming A Memory Structure for A 3D NAND Flash Memory | KEAGY, ROSE ALYSSA | 2818 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 04, 2024 |
| 18906945 | Method for Thinning a Semiconductor Substrate | CARTER, JONATHAN LANGDON | 1713 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 04, 2024 |
| 18808756 | LIGHT EXCITATION AND COLLECTION DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR LIGHT EXCITATION AND COLLECTION | PHILLIPS, RUFUS L | 2877 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 19, 2024 |
| 18762318 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN INTERCONNECT VIA | ANDERSON, WILLIAM H | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 02, 2024 |
| 18680062 | FLUID PROCESSING DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING AND PROCESSING DROPLETS | XU, XIAOYUN | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 31, 2024 |
| 18666250 | REHABILITATION ROBOT OR EXOSKELETON AND COMPONENTS THEREOF | LEBRON DE JESUS, GRACIELA NATALIA | 3785 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 16, 2024 |
| 18656921 | ARTIFICIAL IRIS, A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS, AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS, A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS, AND A METHOD FOR DETERMINING A USER-SPECIFIC PROFILE FOR AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS AND A METHOD FOR DETERMINING A USER-SPECIFIC PROFILE FOR AN ARTIFICIAL IRIS | MANNAN, MIKAIL A | 3774 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 07, 2024 |
| 18397221 | BIO-FET-BASED PEPTIDE SEQUENCING METHOD AND DEVICE | NGUYEN, HENRY H | 1657 | §101§102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 27, 2023 |
| 18392429 | NANOPORE SENSING DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE SENSING LAYERS | VU, VU A | 2897 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 62d | Pending | Dec 21, 2023 |
| 18545730 | Tunneling Enabled Feedback FET | WALL, VINCENT | 2898 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 75d | Pending | Dec 19, 2023 |
| 18544915 | ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICE | SAHLE, MAHIDERE S | 2872 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 19, 2023 |
| 18545610 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CAPTURING ANALYTE PARTICLES IN A LIQUID | EOM, ROBERT J | 1797 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 19, 2023 |
| 18541931 | LOW-LOSS OPTICAL BENT WAVEGUIDE CORE | KIANNI, KAVEH C | 2874 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 15, 2023 |
| 18509500 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A MONITOR MATERIAL OF A PROCESS | BOWERS, NATHAN ANDREW | 1799 | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 15, 2023 |
| 18500642 | MAGNETORESISTIVE RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY DEVICE WITH IN-PLANE MAGNETIC LAYER | YUSHINA, GALINA G | 2811 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 84d | Pending | Nov 02, 2023 |
| 18474803 | Process for Wafer Bonding | TURNER, BRIAN | 2818 | §103 | Final Rejection | 84d | Pending | Sep 26, 2023 |
| 18472122 | DYNAMIC RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME | ARMAND, MARC ANTHONY | 2813 | §102 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 21, 2023 |
| 18468181 | Fabrication of Through-Silicon Vias | CUNNINGHAM, KIERAN MURRAY | 2893 | §103 | Final Rejection | 22d | Pending | Sep 15, 2023 |
| 18356700 | Method for Forming an Interconnect Structure | CHACKO DAVIS, DABORAH | 1737 | §102§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 21, 2023 |
| 18324791 | MIXED METAL OXIDE INCLUDING MAGNESIUM AND ZINC | NGUYEN, CAM N | 1736 | §103§112Other | Final Rejection | 19d | Pending | May 26, 2023 |
| 18197841 | VERTICAL LASER EMITTER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF | NELSON, HUNTER JARED | 2828 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 23d | Pending | May 16, 2023 |
| 18031668 | A COLLECTING DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR COLLECTION OF AIRBORNE PARTICLES FROM A FLOW OF AIR | WEARE, MEREDITH H | 3791 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | 37d overdue | Pending | Apr 13, 2023 |
| 18010722 | A METHOD FOR COMPUTING A HOLOGRAPHIC INTERFERENCE PATTERN | CHANG, AUDREY Y | 2872 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 117d overdue | Pending | Dec 15, 2022 |
| 18065918 | Method for Bonding Dies to a Carrier Substrate | OH, JIYOUNG | 2818 | §103 | Final Rejection | 24d overdue | Pending | Dec 14, 2022 |
| 18065130 | Method for Forming a Semiconductor Device | KOO, LAMONT B | 2813 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 60d overdue | Pending | Dec 13, 2022 |
| 17922024 | COLLOIDAL QUANTUM DOT LIGHT EMITTERS AND DETECTORS | EHRLICH, ALEXANDER JOSEPH | 2828 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 5d | Pending | Oct 28, 2022 |
| 17869289 | Semiconductor Structure with an Epitaxial Layer Stack for Fabricating Back-side Contacts | IQBAL, HAMNA FATHIMA | 2817 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 20, 2022 |
| 17550508 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PRODUCE DIES FOR A WAFER RECONSTITUTION | CULBERT, CHRISTOPHER A | 2815 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 14, 2021 |
| 17020008 | PHOTORESIST FOR EUV AND/OR E-BEAM LITHOGRAPHY | CHAMPION, RICHARD DAVID | 1737 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 67d overdue | Pending | Sep 14, 2020 |
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Start Free TrialImec Vzw has 32 pending office actions as of October 2026, spread across 22 art units and 32 examiners.
Shizhi Qian has the most, with 1 of Imec Vzw's pending office actions.
Mostly Semiconductors, Circuits & Optics (USPTO Tech Center 2800), based on where its pending office actions are examined.
