Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026

Examiner: HERRERA, MICHAEL J

Tech Center 3600 • Art Units: 3668

This examiner grants 65% of resolved cases

Analysis

Michael J. Herrera is an examiner in Art Unit 3668, part of Tech Center 3600. He has overseen 91 resolved cases, providing a sufficient sample to identify his prosecution trends. His allowance rate is 64.8 percent, which is a solid indicator of a fair examination process. This 64.8 percent rate suggests that about two-thirds of the applications he reviews result in a granted patent, provided the claims are well-supported. The 91 resolved cases establish a reliable baseline for predicting outcomes in Art Unit 3668.

The interview lift of 29.2 percent is a strong positive sign for applicants. This lift suggests that direct communication with the examiner can significantly improve the chances of obtaining an allowance compared to the 64.8 percent baseline. By conducting an interview, practitioners can address the examiner's concerns more directly and potentially find a path to allowable subject matter. The 29.2 percent lift is a highly valuable data point for strategic planning in Tech Center 3600.

The median days to allowance for applications under his review is 1167. This timeline is a useful benchmark for managing expectations regarding the duration of the patent process. The 1167-day median pendency, combined with the 64.8 percent allowance rate, highlights the importance of using tools like the 29.2 percent interview lift to navigate the process. The 1167-day duration is a key metric for long-term planning in Art Unit 3668.

Written from this page's own data; every figure is computed from USPTO records and verified before publication.

Performance Statistics

64.8%
Allow Rate
+12.8% vs TC avg
116
Total Applications
+29.2%
Interview Lift
1167
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 91 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

20.9%
§101 Eligibility
9.3%
§102 Novelty
56.9%
§103 Obviousness
12.8%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
19211920 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SMART TRAJECTORY PROTECTION Non-Final OA Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
19022120 GENERATION DEVICE FOR SETTING VALUE SET Final Rejection TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
18832673 SENSING SYSTEM, SENSING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM Final Rejection NEC Corporation
18726438 INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM Non-Final OA NEC Corporation
19127475 VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL AND VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE Non-Final OA Robert Bosch GmbH
18557398 CONTROLLER AND CONTROL METHOD Final Rejection Robert Bosch GmbH
19211930 ELECTRIC WORKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING ELECTRIC WORKING MACHINE Non-Final OA KUBOTA CORPORATION
18878268 MOBILE BODY Non-Final OA HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
18470542 HEAD ENGAGEMENT ASSIST SYSTEMS AND METHODS Final Rejection Deere & Company
18838287 Device and Method for Detecting a Bypass Lane of a Signaling Unit Final Rejection Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
18419234 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING SUBSETS OF DATA IN A DATASET Final Rejection Tesla, Inc.
19249157 ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD WITH AUTONOMOUS DRIVING PATH PLANNING Non-Final OA Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
19197319 LAND HAZARD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A LANDING SITE AND A PILOTLESS AIRCRAFT Non-Final OA Wisk Aero LLC

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