USPTO Examiner THOMAS LUCY M - Art Unit 2838

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19101053SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROTECT A MEMS RELAY SWITCH SYSTEMFebruary 2025June 2025Allow400NoNo
18979782CERAMIC SUSCEPTORDecember 2024May 2025Allow510NoNo
18865016HIGH VOLTAGE BYPASS DEVICE, VOLTAGE SOURCE CONVERTER AND OPERATING METHODNovember 2024May 2025Allow610NoNo
18759276APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING ELECTRONS FROM CLOUD BOTTOMS AND CLOUD TUBESJune 2024March 2025Allow911NoNo
18752754DEVICE, SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS, GATE DRIVER, AND POWER MODULEJune 2024March 2026Allow2040NoNo
18406352SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A PLURALITY OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION RESOURCESJanuary 2024February 2026Allow2620NoNo
18539387ELECTRONIC PROTECTION DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICAL LOAD, POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRICAL LOAD AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SUCH A DEVICEDecember 2023December 2025Allow2410NoNo
18529033SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITDecember 2023January 2026Abandon2510NoNo
18527942SOLID-STATE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND ITS SELF-TEST METHODDecember 2023July 2025Allow2000NoNo
18510928DISCHARGE DEVICENovember 2023October 2025Allow2311NoNo
18387404Animal Training Device that Controls Stimulus Using Proportional Pressure-Based InputNovember 2023December 2025Allow2531YesNo
18499558PROTECTIVE DEVICE WITH MULTI-CHANNEL LINE CURRENT DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTIONNovember 2023February 2026Allow2811YesNo
18557386SHORT-CIRCUIT PROTECTION SYSTEM, SHORT-CIRCUIT PROTECTION APPARATUS, SHORT-CIRCUIT PROTECTION METHOD AND PROGRAMOctober 2023December 2025Abandon2510NoNo
18370426METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A TRIPPING RANGE OF AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SWITCHING DEVICESeptember 2023June 2025Allow2100NoNo
18282397SURGE ARRESTERSeptember 2023August 2025Allow2310NoNo
18452365POWER SWITCH WITH PROTECTION AGAINST SAFE OPERATING AREA (SOA) VIOLATIONSAugust 2023September 2025Allow2510NoNo
18447712SYSTEM FOR MONITORING FIELD DEVICEAugust 2023January 2026Allow3010NoNo
18230232STATIC ELIMINATORAugust 2023May 2025Allow2100NoNo
18225971RESET CIRCUITJuly 2023September 2025Abandon2610NoNo
18358540PROGRAMMABLE DC POWER BUS OVER VOLTAGE PROTECTIONJuly 2023November 2025Allow2820NoNo
18223823ENERGY-LIMITING DEVICE FOR A SURGE ARRESTERJuly 2023March 2026Allow3111NoNo
18337969RELAY CONTROL APPARATUSJune 2023March 2025Allow2110NoNo
18323755PROTECTION METHOD AND PROTECTION SYSTEM OF SHIP'S POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMMay 2023March 2026Allow3330NoNo
18318831CERAMIC SUBSTRATE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE CERAMIC SUBSTRATE, ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK, SUBSTRATE FIXING DEVICE, AND PACKAGE FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEMay 2023July 2025Allow2610NoNo
18036168Electronic cut-off protection deviceMay 2023August 2025Abandon2710NoNo
18133033RESIDUAL CURRENT DEVICE WITH CONTROLLED DISCHARGEApril 2023February 2026Allow3411YesNo
18029821CERAMIC JOINED BODY, ELECTROSTATIC CHUCKING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CERAMIC JOINED BODYMarch 2023October 2025Allow3120NoNo
18126208MAIN SWITCH OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF A VEHICLEMarch 2023March 2026Abandon3530NoNo
18028419REMOTE ASSISTED PLASMA IGNITION DEVICE & ITS APPLICATIONMarch 2023December 2025Abandon3310NoNo
18104266SUBSTRATE SUPPORT AND PLASMA PROCESSING APPARATUSJanuary 2023February 2026Allow3730YesNo
18071726Removable Surge Protector Configured for Standard Electrical EnclosureNovember 2022March 2026Allow3911YesNo
17999247WIND TURBINE AND CONVERTER FILTER CAPACITOR SWITCHING CONTROL METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM THEREFORNovember 2022October 2025Abandon3421NoNo
18052458COMMON MODE VOLTAGE CLAMP FOR MULTIDROP NETWORKSNovember 2022July 2025Allow3330NoNo
18048788LEAKAGE CURRENT CONTROL DEVICE AND RELATED CONTROL APPARATUS AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE EMPLOYING THE SAMEOctober 2022March 2026Abandon4160NoNo
17876949MULTI SOCKET POWER EXTENSION SOURCEJuly 2022December 2025Allow4120YesNo
17865679OVERCURRENT PROTECTION CIRCUIT AND DISPLAY DEVICEJuly 2022April 2025Allow3301NoNo
17863160FAULT PROTECTION FOR SECURITY SYSTEM CONTROLLERSJuly 2022March 2025Allow3250YesNo
17858032Multi-channel CircuitJuly 2022December 2025Allow4121NoNo
17778390Addressable Switch with Initiator Detection and Initiator Resistance MeasurementMay 2022March 2025Allow3421NoNo
17521388ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED SOFT ROBOTIC DEVICES AND METHODS FOR THEIR FABRICATIONNovember 2021August 2025Allow4521YesNo
17513955CURRENT CONTROL FOR MULTI-PORT CHARGING CIRCUITOctober 2021October 2025Allow4721YesNo
17607154IONIC WIND GENERATOROctober 2021February 2026Allow5220YesYes
17481334SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP WITH GATE OXIDE PROTECTION OF METAL-OXIDE-SEMICONDUCTOR TRANSISTOR AND/OR OXIDE PROTECTION OF METAL-OXIDE-METAL CAPACITORSeptember 2021October 2025Abandon4950NoNo
17285267INTRINSICALLY SAFE CIRCUITRYApril 2021February 2025Allow4650YesNo
17225649DETECTION OF MAGNETIC PULSE AND ORIENTATION WHEN MAGNETIZINGApril 2021February 2025Allow4730NoNo
16741696SYSTEM AND METHOD OF NEUTRALIZING ELECTOSTATIC ENERGYJanuary 2020November 2023Abandon4671YesNo
16623293SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A POWER-LINE FILTER UTILIZING CONDUCTIVE CONCRETE/SHOTCRETEDecember 2019March 2025Allow6040YesNo
15540126OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION ARRANGEMENT FOR INFORMATION AND TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYJune 2017July 2020Allow3710NoNo
15495439FAULT CURRENT LIMITERApril 2017March 2020Allow3520NoNo
15311616MAGNETIC LEVITATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAMENovember 2016February 2020Allow3920YesNo
15352349METHOD FOR PREVENTING DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION MALOPERATION OF OPTICAL FIBER CAUSED BY SATURATION OF SINGLE CT OF 3/2 CONNECTIONNovember 2016December 2019Allow3720YesNo
15268780OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERSeptember 2016August 2019Allow3420NoNo
15189408ESD PROTECTION CIRCUITJune 2016December 2019Allow4230NoNo
14875663SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEOctober 2015November 2018Allow3811NoNo
14871086ESD PROTECTION DEVICESeptember 2015December 2018Allow3940YesNo
14823871PROTECTION DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMAugust 2015May 2018Allow3320YesNo
14655541CONCENTRIC ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE AEROSOL CHARGERJune 2015September 2018Allow3840YesNo
14632958Safety Guard for Conductive Energy Weapon Ammunition and Related MethodsFebruary 2015March 2020Allow6031YesYes
14337287METHOD FOR DETECTING A DEFECTIVE AMPLIFIER IN AN ANALOG SIGNAL CONDITIONING DEVICE OF A SWITCHJuly 2014January 2020Allow6050YesYes
14265379STATIC ELECTRICITY PREVENTION DEVICEApril 2014October 2016Allow2910NoNo
14355384METHOD FOR REMOVING ELECTRO-STATIC DISCHARGE (EDS) NOISE SIGNAL IN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM INCLUDING THE METAL-INSULATOR TRANSITION (MIT) 3-TERMINAL DEVICEApril 2014November 2016Allow3010NoNo
14264102IGNITION PLUG AND IGNITION SYSTEMApril 2014April 2016Allow2410NoNo
14191729METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DIRECTION OF CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH CIRCUIT BREAKERFebruary 2014October 2018Allow5650YesNo
14167625Electronic Devices Having Electrostatic Discharge PathsJanuary 2014September 2017Allow4341YesNo
14163779MINI APPLIANCE LEAKAGE CURRENT INERRUPTER CIRCUIT AND HOUSING EMBODIMENTSJanuary 2014May 2016Allow2820NoNo
14159177DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN OVERLOAD AND OPEN LOAD IN OFF CONDITIONSJanuary 2014November 2016Allow3430YesNo
14148255ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION DEVICE AND CHIP COMPONENT WITH THE SAMEJanuary 2014April 2016Allow2720NoNo
14109292X-RAY TUBEDecember 2013January 2017Allow3740YesNo
13978088ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTACTORJuly 2013February 2015Allow2010NoNo
13976387VOLTAGE DETECTOR WITH HIGH VOLTAGE PROTECTIONJune 2013September 2016Allow3830NoNo
13916788ELECTRONIC DEVICEJune 2013April 2016Allow3420NoNo
13891799ELECTRICAL PROTECTION CIRCUITRY FOR A DOCKING STATION BASE OF A HAND HELD METER AND METHOD THEREOFMay 2013March 2014Allow1010YesNo
13822093Electrical or Electronic Safety CircuitMarch 2013July 2016Allow4030NoYes
13821588DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LIMITING LEAKAGE CURRENTSMarch 2013June 2015Allow2730NoNo
13740792PROTECTION RELAY APPARATUSJanuary 2013October 2014Allow2120NoNo
13635889Materials for Electroadhesion and ElectrolaminatesSeptember 2012May 2016Allow4440YesNo
13329587CORONA IGNITION DEVICEDecember 2011March 2014Allow2710NoNo
13138090SURGE ARRESTER HAVING AN OPTICAL FAULT INDICATORSeptember 2011December 2013Allow2900NoNo
13206993ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICEAugust 2011June 2013Allow2220NoNo
13146091ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WITH REDUNDANT TRUNKJuly 2011June 2014Allow3520NoNo
13086992DIRECTING THE FLOW OF ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) CURRENT TO A TARGETED IMPEDANCE USING NESTED PLATESApril 2011June 2013Allow2610NoNo
13076888ELECTRONIC BALLAST WITH PROTECTED ANALOG DIMMING CONTROL INTERFACEMarch 2011October 2013Allow3010NoNo
12831387POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS AND METHODJuly 2010December 2012Allow2910NoNo
12823387OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION ELEMENTJune 2010April 2013Allow3420NoNo
12735087APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AND/OR MONITORING A PROCESS VARIABLEJune 2010July 2012Allow2530NoNo
12758587COMPENSATING FOR AN ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE CAPACITANCE LOADApril 2010June 2013Allow3820NoNo
12720187HIGH POWER SOLID STATE POWER CONTROLLER (SSPC) SOLUTION FOR PRIMARY POWER DISTRIBUTION APPLICATIONSMarch 2010August 2014Allow5450YesNo
12516090POWER SUPPLIESJanuary 2010January 2013Allow4430YesNo
12650831OVERHEAT DETECTION IN THERMALLY CONTROLLED DEVICESDecember 2009April 2011Allow1510NoNo
12602692APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MODIFICATION OF ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE ON A MOVING WEBDecember 2009June 2013Allow4320NoNo
12628188ESD PROTECTION APPARATUS AND ESD DEVICE THEREINNovember 2009January 2013Allow3841NoNo
12490488OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION ELEMENTJune 2009January 2012Allow3110NoNo
12473087OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION PLUGMay 2009December 2012Allow4220NoNo
12432387METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING GLOW PLUGS IN A DIESEL ENGINE, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR-VEHICLESApril 2009August 2011Allow2700YesNo
12425728COAXIAL BROADBAND SURGE PROTECTORApril 2009November 2011Allow3110NoNo
12423087INTRINSICALLY SAFE CIRCUIT FOR DRIVING A SOLENOID VALVE AT LOW POWERApril 2009July 2011Allow2710YesNo
12375488SWITCHING REGULATOR AND OPERATIONS CONTROL METHOD THEREOFJanuary 2009January 2012Allow3520NoNo
12355889SIGNAL AND POWER SUPPLY INTEGRATED ESD PROTECTION DEVICEJanuary 2009December 2011Allow3520YesNo
12340691ELECTROSTATIC BLOWER SYSTEMSDecember 2008July 2011Allow3110YesNo
12327888PARTICLE TRAPDecember 2008June 2011Allow3110YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner THOMAS, LUCY M.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
1
Examiner Affirmed
1
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
11.7%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 0.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals face significant challenges here.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
14
Allowed After Appeal Filing
6
(42.9%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
8
(57.1%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
71.1%
Higher 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, 42.9% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting reconsideration.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.

Filing a Notice of Appeal is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Examiner THOMAS, LUCY M - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner THOMAS, LUCY M works in Art Unit 2838 and has examined 127 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 98.4%, this examiner allows applications at a higher rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 35 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner THOMAS, LUCY M's allowance rate of 98.4% places them in the 91% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is more likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by THOMAS, LUCY M receive 2.34 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 66% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by THOMAS, LUCY M is 35 months. This places the examiner in the 40% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a -1.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by THOMAS, LUCY M. This interview benefit is in the 10% percentile among all examiners. Note: Interviews show limited statistical benefit with this examiner compared to others, though they may still be valuable for clarifying issues.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 34.4% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 76% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. If you receive a final rejection, filing an RCE with substantive amendments or arguments has a strong likelihood of success.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 34.3% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 51% 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, 171.4% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 92% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. Before filing a full appeal brief, strongly consider requesting a PAC. The PAC provides an opportunity for the examiner and supervisory personnel to reconsider the rejection before the case proceeds to the PTAB.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 92.9% of appeals filed. This is in the 84% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 53.8% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1207.01, all appeals must go through a mandatory appeal conference. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration even before you file an Appeal Brief.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 50.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 47% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show below-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 12.6% of allowed cases (in the 95% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 4.8% of allowed cases (in the 80% percentile). Per MPEP § 714.14, a Quayle action indicates that all claims are allowable but formal matters remain. This examiner frequently uses Quayle actions compared to other examiners, which is a positive indicator that once substantive issues are resolved, allowance follows quickly.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

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

  • RCEs are effective: This examiner has a high allowance rate after RCE compared to others. If you receive a final rejection and have substantive amendments or arguments, an RCE is likely to be successful.
  • Request pre-appeal conferences: PACs are highly effective with this examiner. Before filing a full appeal brief, request a PAC to potentially resolve issues without full PTAB review.
  • Appeal filing as negotiation tool: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.
  • Examiner cooperation: This examiner frequently makes examiner's amendments to place applications in condition for allowance. If you are close to allowance, the examiner may help finalize the claims.

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.