Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology areas: Transportation, E-Commerce & Mechanical Systems • Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
37 pending office actions • 20 art units • 36 examiners • 0 of 37 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 186 patents granted in the last 365 days
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has 37 pending office actions within the Transportation, E-Commerce & Mechanical Systems technology area. These actions are spread across 36 distinct examiners, which means that nearly every pending application is under the review of a different official. The prosecution effort is distributed through 20 distinct art units, indicating that the company's automotive and mechanical innovations are being evaluated by a wide array of technical experts.
The busiest examiner for this portfolio is MCNULTY, SEAMUS PATRICK, who is responsible for 2 busiest examiner pending actions. With 37 pending office actions in total, this represents a very low concentration of work with any single examiner. This suggests that the outcomes of Nissan's patent applications are determined by a broad and diverse group of examiners rather than a few key individuals at the patent office.
The involvement of 20 distinct art units requires practitioners to be familiar with various examination standards across different mechanical and transportation sectors. Because there are 36 distinct examiners, the prosecution strategy must be highly individualized for each application. The 2 busiest examiner pending actions handled by MCNULTY, SEAMUS PATRICK highlight the most active point of contact in an otherwise highly dispersed portfolio.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 6 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. 6 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 | 1 (3%) |
| §101 + other | 1 (3%) |
| §103 only | 18 (49%) |
| §102 only | 4 (11%) |
| §112 only | 1 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 12 (32%) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCNULTY, SEAMUS PATRICK | 2 | 42.9% | +32.1% |
| HUYNH, CHRISTINE NGUYEN | 1 | 68.1% | +25.2% |
| PHAM, QUANG | 1 | 54.2% | +57.3% |
| GIRMA, FEKADESELASS | 1 | 77.0% | +17.8% |
| TESSEMA, BESUFEKAD LEMMA | 1 | 47.6% | -7.1% |
| ALLEN, JEFFREY R | 1 | 48.1% | +26.7% |
| LIETHEN, KURT PHILIP | 1 | 79.6% | +9.5% |
| STANEK, KELSEY L | 1 | 80.6% | +15.3% |
| MILLER, LEAH NICOLE | 1 | 54.3% | -4.7% |
| WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT | 1 | 82.5% | +17.8% |
Cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate of 80%+ where the difficulty is Easy or Medium. The top 2 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18994447 | EXHAUST SYSTEM STATE DETERMINATION METHOD AND EXHAUST SYSTEM STATE DETERMINATION DEVICE | STANEK, KELSEY L | — |
| 18879273 | SEAT FRAME FOR VEHICLE | WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18572215 | COATING EVALUATION DEVICE AND COATING EVALUATION METHOD | SCHNASE, PAUL DANIEL | 9d overdue |
| 19160773 | INTERIOR COMPONENT CONTROL DEVICE AND INTERIOR COMPONENT CONTROL METHOD | PHAM, QUANG | — |
| 18881801 | Parking Assistance Method and Parking Assistance Device | MILLER, LEAH NICOLE | — |
| 18872188 | MOUNTING BRACKET | HANNON, TIMOTHY | — |
| 18870983 | MOTOR CONTROL METHOD AND MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE | ISLAM, MUHAMMAD S | — |
| 18863241 | VEHICLE ROUTE PLANNING DEVICE, VEHICLE ROUTE PLANNING METHOD, AND VEHICLE ROUTE PLANNING SYSTEM | UNDERBAKKE, JACOB DANIEL | — |
| 18860305 | INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND PROGRAM | BADAWI, SHERIEF | — |
| 18851517 | CONTACT DETERMINATION METHOD AND CONTACT DETERMINATION DEVICE | CLARKE, ADAM S | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19112990 | CAPLESS FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY | ALLEN, JEFFREY R | 15d |
| 17877314 | Anode Current Collector Modification for Lithium Metal Batteries | MCNULTY, SEAMUS PATRICK | 78d |
| 19165016 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BATTERY OF SERIES HYBRID VEHICLE, AND SERIES HYBRID VEHICLE | HUYNH, CHRISTINE NGUYEN | — |
| 19160773 | INTERIOR COMPONENT CONTROL DEVICE AND INTERIOR COMPONENT CONTROL METHOD | PHAM, QUANG | — |
| 19132396 | VISUAL SIGNAL GENERATION METHOD AND VEHICLE | GIRMA, FEKADESELASS | — |
| 18994447 | EXHAUST SYSTEM STATE DETERMINATION METHOD AND EXHAUST SYSTEM STATE DETERMINATION DEVICE | STANEK, KELSEY L | — |
| 18879273 | SEAT FRAME FOR VEHICLE | WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT | — |
| 18567698 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL | MCNULTY, SEAMUS PATRICK | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3662 | 2 |
| 2689 | 2 |
| 3747 | 2 |
| 3663 | 2 |
| 1752 | 2 |
| 2685 | 1 |
| 3665 | 1 |
| 3733 | 1 |
| 3741 | 1 |
| 3655 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19165016 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BATTERY OF SERIES HYBRID VEHICLE, AND SERIES HYBRID VEHICLE | HUYNH, CHRISTINE NGUYEN | 3662 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 12, 2025 |
| 19160773 | INTERIOR COMPONENT CONTROL DEVICE AND INTERIOR COMPONENT CONTROL METHOD | PHAM, QUANG | 2685 | §101§102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 28, 2025 |
| 19132396 | VISUAL SIGNAL GENERATION METHOD AND VEHICLE | GIRMA, FEKADESELASS | 2689 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | May 23, 2025 |
| 19116784 | Travel Assistance Method and Travel Assistance Device | TESSEMA, BESUFEKAD LEMMA | 3665 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 28, 2025 |
| 19112990 | CAPLESS FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY | ALLEN, JEFFREY R | 3733 | §103 | Final Rejection | 15d | Pending | Mar 19, 2025 |
| 18994188 | CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLE AND DEVICE | LIETHEN, KURT PHILIP | 3747 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 14, 2025 |
| 18994447 | EXHAUST SYSTEM STATE DETERMINATION METHOD AND EXHAUST SYSTEM STATE DETERMINATION DEVICE | STANEK, KELSEY L | 3741 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 14, 2025 |
| 18881801 | Parking Assistance Method and Parking Assistance Device | MILLER, LEAH NICOLE | 3663 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 07, 2025 |
| 18879273 | SEAT FRAME FOR VEHICLE | WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT | — | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 27, 2024 |
| 18872307 | SEQUENTIAL SHAPING METHOD | EKIERT, TERESA M | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 06, 2024 |
| 18872188 | MOUNTING BRACKET | HANNON, TIMOTHY | 3655 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 05, 2024 |
| 18870983 | MOTOR CONTROL METHOD AND MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE | ISLAM, MUHAMMAD S | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 02, 2024 |
| 18866889 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OXYGEN STORAGE AMOUNT IN THREE-WAY CATALYST | EDWARDS, LOREN C | 3746 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 18, 2024 |
| 18863241 | VEHICLE ROUTE PLANNING DEVICE, VEHICLE ROUTE PLANNING METHOD, AND VEHICLE ROUTE PLANNING SYSTEM | UNDERBAKKE, JACOB DANIEL | 3662 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 05, 2024 |
| 18934552 | METHOD FOR SUBSCRIBING TO A GEO-SERVICE IN A MEC ARCHITECTURE | HAMMONDS, MARCUS C | — | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 01, 2024 |
| 18860861 | DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD | MORTELL, JOHN F | 2689 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 28, 2024 |
| 18860305 | INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND PROGRAM | BADAWI, SHERIEF | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 25, 2024 |
| 18855260 | INHIBITOR SWITCH | SAEED, AHMED M | — | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 08, 2024 |
| 18854324 | CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLE AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE | JOHNSON, KYLE T | 3656 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 04, 2024 |
| 18851517 | CONTACT DETERMINATION METHOD AND CONTACT DETERMINATION DEVICE | CLARKE, ADAM S | 2858 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 26, 2024 |
| 18848402 | STRUCTURE OF CHARGING PORT OF VEHICLE | MOUNTAIN, JEFFREY WIGHTMAN | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 18, 2024 |
| 18839552 | Driving Assistance Method and Driving Assistance Device | SILVA, MICHAEL THOMAS | 3663 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 19, 2024 |
| 18836284 | METAL POWDER FORMING METHOD | ALIE, GHASSEM | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 06, 2024 |
| 18835331 | TORQUE DISTRIBUTION CONTROL METHOD AND TORQUE DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE | HUYNH, HAI H | — | §101 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 01, 2024 |
| 18716983 | COMMUNICATION CONTROL DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD | CAMPERO MIRAMONTE, MARIO RICARDO | 2649 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 06, 2024 |
| 18702633 | Pressurizing Structure for Storage Battery | NGUYEN, JIMMY T | 3725 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Apr 18, 2024 |
| 18700623 | INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE | BUSE, TERRY C | 3666 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 9d | Pending | Apr 11, 2024 |
| 18690914 | EXHAUST GAS PURIFICATION CATALYST, AND EXHAUST GAS PURIFICATION CATALYST APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES, USING SAME | JOHNSON, CHRISTINA ANN | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 11, 2024 |
| 18572215 | COATING EVALUATION DEVICE AND COATING EVALUATION METHOD | SCHNASE, PAUL DANIEL | 2877 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 9d overdue | Pending | Dec 20, 2023 |
| 18567698 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL | MCNULTY, SEAMUS PATRICK | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 06, 2023 |
| 18557566 | Positive Electrode Material for Electrical Device, and Positive Electrode for Electrical Device and Electrical Device Using Same | LOVASZ, MYLES ALAN | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 26, 2023 |
| 18553377 | NON-HEAT TREATED STEEL FOR CRANKSHAFTS AND CRANKSHAFT USING NON-HEAT TREATED STEEL | HILL, STEPHANI A | 1735 | §103 | Final Rejection | 14d | Pending | Sep 29, 2023 |
| 18269517 | ALUMINUM ALLOY MEMBER FOR USE IN LASER WELDING | YANG, JIE | 3761 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 23, 2023 |
| 18332900 | MULTILAYER, FLEXIBLE, IMPACT AND PUNCTURE RESISTANT, FLUID IMPERVIOUS, DIELECTRIC INSULATOR SHEET FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PACK AND MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT THEREWITH | GODO, OLATUNJI A | 1752 | §103 | Final Rejection | 33d | Pending | Jun 12, 2023 |
| 17921299 | Output Control Method for Secondary Battery and Output Control System for Secondary Battery | ONDRASIK, JOHN PAUL | 2859 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Oct 25, 2022 |
| 17877314 | Anode Current Collector Modification for Lithium Metal Batteries | MCNULTY, SEAMUS PATRICK | 1752 | §102 | Final Rejection | 78d | Pending | Jul 29, 2022 |
| 17794309 | VEHICLE COOLING DEVICE | MORALES, OMAR | 3747 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 21, 2022 |
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