USPTO Examiner ZHENG LI - Art Unit 1662

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18584801ELEVATED RESISTANCE TO INSECTS AND PLANT PATHOGENS WITHOUT COMPROMISING SEED PRODUCTIONFebruary 2024May 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18438998PLANT REGULATORY ELEMENTS AND USES THEREOFFebruary 2024June 2025Allow1620YesNo
18434455COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING BIOMASS PRODUCTIVITY IN PLANTSFebruary 2024May 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18524717HAPLOID INDUCTION COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR USE THEREFORNovember 2023April 2025Allow1720NoNo
18517630MAIZE PLANTS WITH IMPROVED DISEASE RESISTANCENovember 2023February 2025Abandon1501NoNo
18490545METHODS FOR GENETIC CONTROL OF INSECT INFESTATIONS IN PLANTS AND COMPOSITIONS THEREOFOctober 2023February 2025Abandon1601NoNo
18235247MODIFIED VIP3 POLYPEPTIDESAugust 2023September 2024Allow1310NoNo
18226084SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 99002218July 2023September 2024Abandon1410NoNo
18357691Regulatory Nucleic Acid Molecules for Enhancing Constitutive Gene Expression in PlantsJuly 2023March 2025Allow1911YesNo
18353842SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 91132218July 2023October 2024Abandon1510NoNo
18353815SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 90112218July 2023September 2024Abandon1410NoNo
18332614COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR MITIGATING PEST INFESTATIONJune 2023July 2024Allow1310NoNo
18329183NOVEL RNA-GUIDED DNA NUCLEASES AND USES THEREOFJune 2023April 2025Allow2321NoNo
18183863COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING LEPTINOTARSAMarch 2023June 2024Abandon1501NoNo
18157337RECOMBINANT FUSION PROTEINS FOR PRODUCING MILK PROTEINS IN PLANTSJanuary 2023March 2025Abandon2611NoNo
18154191LOX3 GENE MODULATION AND ARMYWORM TOLERANCEJanuary 2023May 2025Allow2851YesNo
18153863COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING BIOMASS PRODUCTIVITY IN PLANTSJanuary 2023November 2023Allow1021YesNo
18092534PLANT-ENDOPHYTE COMBINATIONS AND USES THEREFORJanuary 2023January 2025Abandon2520YesNo
18145611WHEAT WITH REDUCED LIPOXYGENASE ACTIVITYDecember 2022September 2024Allow2110NoNo
18066310WHEAT VARIETY 6PEJL70BDecember 2022April 2025Allow2810NoNo
18079850METHOD FOR OBTAINING ADVENTITIOUS TETRAPLOID BUD OF BLUMEA BALSAMIFERADecember 2022August 2023Allow810NoNo
18062394CONTROL OF PHENOTYPE IN PLANTSDecember 2022February 2025Allow2710YesNo
18061749PESTICIDAL GENES AND METHODS OF USEDecember 2022January 2024Abandon1301NoNo
18072618Plants and Seeds of Corn Variety CV905113November 2022April 2025Allow2800NoNo
17994857Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH010374November 2022July 2025Allow3110NoNo
18059112ENGINEERED PESTICIDAL PROTEINS AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING PLANT PESTSNovember 2022September 2024Allow2210NoNo
17994667Plants and Seeds of Corn Variety CV944507November 2022February 2025Allow2700NoNo
17994353Plants and Seeds of Corn Variety CV931885November 2022January 2025Allow2600NoNo
17994313Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH010380November 2022May 2025Allow3010NoNo
17994302SOYBEAN VARIETY 01098337November 2022April 2025Allow2910NoNo
17993969SOYBEAN VARIETY 01098301November 2022April 2025Allow2910NoNo
17992351Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH010363November 2022October 2024Allow2300NoNo
17992482SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 22424206November 2022January 2025Allow2610NoNo
17988948SOYBEAN VARIETY 01094758November 2022October 2024Allow2300NoNo
17988814SOYBEAN VARIETY 01094752November 2022September 2024Allow2200NoNo
17987745Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH010412November 2022October 2024Allow2300NoNo
17987413SOYBEAN VARIETY 01094718November 2022October 2024Allow2300NoNo
17967581TOMATO HYBRID SVTD8202 AND PARENTS THEREOFOctober 2022April 2025Allow3011NoNo
17917746Methods and Compositions for Improving Cold-Tolerance of PlantsOctober 2022May 2025Abandon3101NoNo
17946393SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 15340300September 2022December 2024Allow2710NoNo
17946282SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 16030114September 2022December 2024Allow2710NoNo
17932510CANOLA VARIETY 4005A435-18September 2022December 2024Allow2710NoNo
17932485CANOLA VARIETY 4005B173-41September 2022December 2024Allow2710NoNo
17932489CANOLA HYBRID 20GU2279NSeptember 2022October 2024Allow2510NoNo
17932502CANOLA HYBRID 21GG1082NSeptember 2022June 2025Allow3310NoNo
17932499CANOLA HYBRID 21GG2040NSeptember 2022June 2025Allow3310NoNo
17932176TRITICALE CULTIVAR NS17CA1693September 2022April 2025Allow3120NoNo
17943791SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 19430836September 2022October 2024Allow2510NoNo
17943866SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 12301724September 2022October 2024Allow2510NoNo
17943964SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 12140019September 2022October 2024Allow2510NoNo
17939728SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 19140644September 2022August 2024Allow2310NoNo
17822696POTATO TRANSFORMATION VECTORSAugust 2022June 2025Abandon3411NoNo
17883577INCREASED PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN PLANTSAugust 2022April 2024Allow2121YesNo
17851624RECOMBINANT FUSION PROTEINS FOR PRODUCING MILK PROTEINS IN PLANTSJune 2022November 2022Allow510NoNo
17808848MAIZE HYBRID X18T160June 2022September 2024Allow2610NoNo
17808865MAIZE HYBRID X03V416June 2022August 2024Allow2610NoNo
17808881MAIZE HYBRID X95V293June 2022September 2024Allow2610NoNo
17808661MAIZE HYBRID X95V284June 2022August 2024Allow2610NoNo
17808619MAIZE HYBRID X90V902June 2022August 2024Allow2610NoNo
17808886MAIZE HYBRID X08V052June 2022October 2024Allow2710NoNo
17808573MAIZE HYBRID X08V012June 2022September 2024Allow2610NoNo
17808657MAIZE HYBRID X90V904June 2022February 2025Allow3210NoNo
17807445MAIZE INBRED 1PWPU84June 2022August 2024Allow2610NoNo
17807516MAIZE INBRED 1PJKP45June 2022August 2024Allow2610NoNo
17807437MAIZE INBRED 4ABSM1967June 2022June 2024Allow2410NoNo
17805016INSECTICIDAL PROTEINS AND METHODS FOR THEIR USEJune 2022January 2024Allow1911NoNo
17661297COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS TO CONTROL INSECT PESTSApril 2022January 2024Abandon2111NoNo
17729892METHODS FOR GENETIC CONTROL OF INSECT INFESTATIONS IN PLANTS AND COMPOSITIONS THEREOFApril 2022July 2023Allow1511NoNo
17729977SWEET CORN HYBRID SVSC2876 AND PARENTS THEREOFApril 2022January 2024Allow2010NoNo
17709990INBRED CORN LINE CB18613C1March 2022July 2024Allow2710NoNo
17761469Stevia Cultivar '320032' With Super High Rebaudioside A ContentMarch 2022January 2025Allow3410YesNo
17694944SOYBEAN CULTIVAR 13130617March 2022January 2024Allow2200NoNo
17642926RNAI-MEDIATED PEST CONTROLMarch 2022September 2024Abandon3001NoNo
17691549Haploid Induction Compositions and Methods for Use ThereforMarch 2022January 2024Allow2221NoNo
17689613COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL OF INSECT INFESTATIONS IN PLANTSMarch 2022May 2024Allow2710NoNo
17689598RNA-BASED CONTROL OF POWDERY MILDEWMarch 2022April 2024Allow2531YesNo
17638572FRUIT-BEARING PLANT EXHIBITING HIGH TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE, HIGH YIELD, AND PARTHENOCARPYFebruary 2022April 2025Allow3820NoNo
17669219HYBRID TOMATO PLANT NAMED HM 8268February 2022April 2024Allow2610YesNo
17587978ALFALFA VARIETY C0518A3663January 2022May 2025Allow3920NoNo
17568884TARGETED CONTROL OF PESTS AND PATHOGENS BY PLANT DELIVERY OF 2'F-ANA-OLIGONUCLEOTIDESJanuary 2022December 2023Allow2311NoNo
17551119DISEASE RESISTANT PETUNIA PLANTSDecember 2021August 2024Allow3220YesNo
17643494SORGHUM INBRED 2PKMJ88RDecember 2021August 2024Allow3210NoNo
17533190Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011196November 2021January 2024Allow2600NoNo
17530091Plants and Seeds of Corn Variety CV516589November 2021December 2023Allow2500NoNo
17455446WHEAT VARIETY 6PZDF21BNovember 2021December 2023Allow2500NoNo
17455438WHEAT VARIETY 6PLJW60BNovember 2021November 2023Allow2400NoNo
17520039Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011237November 2021September 2023Allow2200NoNo
17519650Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011224November 2021September 2023Allow2200NoNo
17518530Plants and Seeds of Corn Variety CV523419November 2021December 2023Allow2500NoNo
17515928Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011226November 2021September 2023Allow2200NoNo
17510450Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011175October 2021April 2024Allow3010NoNo
17510644Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011159October 2021September 2023Allow2300NoNo
17510561Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011109October 2021August 2023Allow2200NoNo
17509740Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH010988October 2021January 2024Allow2710NoNo
17509468Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011009October 2021August 2023Allow2200NoNo
17509423Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH010990October 2021January 2024Allow2710NoNo
17507139Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH010997October 2021July 2023Allow2100NoNo
17507436Plants and Seeds of Corn Variety CV399035October 2021July 2023Allow2100NoNo
17506400Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011013October 2021August 2023Allow2200NoNo
17505381Plants and Seeds of Hybrid Corn Variety CH011010October 2021August 2023Allow2200NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner ZHENG, LI.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
4
Examiner Affirmed
2
(50.0%)
Examiner Reversed
2
(50.0%)
Reversal Percentile
69.4%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 50.0% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is above the USPTO average, indicating that appeals have better success here than typical.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
32
Allowed After Appeal Filing
5
(15.6%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
27
(84.4%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
16.1%
Lower than average

Understanding Appeal Filing Strategy

Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.

In this dataset, 15.6% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is less effective here than in most other areas.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB show good success rates. If you have a strong case on the merits, consider fully prosecuting the appeal to a Board decision.

Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner ZHENG, LI - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner ZHENG, LI works in Art Unit 1662 and has examined 941 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 87.0%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 22 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner ZHENG, LI's allowance rate of 87.0% places them in the 61% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by ZHENG, LI receive 1.39 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 30% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by ZHENG, LI is 22 months. This places the examiner in the 79% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications move through prosecution relatively quickly with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +9.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by ZHENG, LI. This interview benefit is in the 44% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 21.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 17% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show lower effectiveness with this examiner compared to others. Consider whether a continuation application might be more strategic, especially if you need to add new matter or significantly broaden claims.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 43.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 60% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows above-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. If your amendments clearly overcome the rejections and do not raise new issues, consider filing after-final amendments before resorting to an RCE.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 100.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 68% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. If you have strong arguments, a PAC request may result in favorable reconsideration.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 82.6% of appeals filed. This is in the 73% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 68.4% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows above-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. The mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) provides an opportunity for reconsideration.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 80.8% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 93% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are frequently granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1002.02(c), various examiner actions are petitionable to the Technology Center Director, including prematureness of final rejection, refusal to enter amendments, and requirement for information. If you believe an examiner action is improper, consider filing a petition.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.7% of allowed cases (in the 64% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments more often than average to place applications in condition for allowance (MPEP § 1302.04).

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 2% percentile). This examiner rarely issues Quayle actions compared to other examiners. Allowances typically come directly without a separate action for formal matters.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:

    Relevant MPEP Sections for Prosecution Strategy

    • MPEP § 713.10: Examiner interviews - available before Notice of Allowance or transfer to PTAB
    • MPEP § 714.12: After-final amendments - may be entered "under justifiable circumstances"
    • MPEP § 1002.02(c): Petitionable matters to Technology Center Director
    • MPEP § 1004: Actions requiring primary examiner signature (allowances, final rejections, examiner's answers)
    • MPEP § 1207.01: Appeal conferences - mandatory for all appeals
    • MPEP § 1214.07: Reopening prosecution after appeal

    Important Disclaimer

    Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.

    No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.

    Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.

    Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.