USPTO Examiner COMBER KEVIN J - Art Unit 2839

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
17138550SURGE PROTECTION DEVICE AND CHIP CONSTITUTED BY SAME, AND COMMUNICATION TERMINALDecember 2020June 2022Allow1700YesNo
17256794DIRECT-CURRENT BREAKING DEVICEDecember 2020December 2021Allow1200YesNo
17120101Fan Driving CircuitDecember 2020September 2022Allow2210NoNo
17114185ESD DEVICE WITH FAST RESPONSE AND HIGH TRANSIENT CURRENTDecember 2020May 2022Allow1710YesNo
16972159ARC FAULT DETECTION IN TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION UNITDecember 2020July 2023Allow3200YesNo
17109195INSTALLATION DEVICE FOR AIR GAP ARRESTER AND INSTALLATION METHOD THEREOFDecember 2020July 2023Allow3100NoNo
17108824SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS AND SYSTEMDecember 2020March 2022Allow1500NoNo
17059441SAFETY HANDLE FOR THE CONTROL OF ACCESS FOR MACHINES OR INDUSTRIAL PLANTSNovember 2020March 2024Allow3920NoNo
17101990System for Preventing Transformer SaturationNovember 2020November 2022Allow2311NoNo
17055929Superconducting Current Limiter With Electroconductive SpacerNovember 2020December 2023Allow3710NoNo
17093212ELECTRICAL FAULT DETECTION AND RECOVERY POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND ITS CONSTRUCTION METHODNovember 2020October 2022Allow2310NoNo
17092066APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POWER AMPLIFIER SURGE PROTECTIONNovember 2020February 2022Allow1500NoNo
17085314METHOD FOR CHARGING A SUPERCONDUCTOR MAGNET SYSTEM, WITH A MAIN SUPERCONDUCTOR BULK MAGNET AND A SHIELD SUPERCONDUCTOR BULK MAGNETOctober 2020October 2022Allow2400YesNo
17081781DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING OPERATING STATE OF CONTACTOROctober 2020May 2022Allow1800YesNo
17078776Ground Fault Circuit Breaker with Remote Testing CapabilityOctober 2020April 2022Allow1840YesNo
17076551Compact Modular Electrical Load Management SystemOctober 2020January 2023Allow2610NoNo
17073671MULTI-PRESSURE BIPOLAR ELECTROSTATIC CHUCKINGOctober 2020January 2024Allow3810YesNo
17042902MOTOR CONTROLLER ELECTRICAL-DISCHARGE CONTROL CIRCUITSeptember 2020April 2022Allow1920YesNo
17040901Thermal Protected Varistor DeviceSeptember 2020December 2022Allow2630NoNo
17040888ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PROTRUSIONS THEREOFSeptember 2020January 2022Allow1610YesNo
17027605ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR DESIGN FOR DETECTION OF MULTIPLE ACCESSORIESSeptember 2020June 2023Allow3300NoNo
17025329ELECTRONIC DEVICESeptember 2020March 2022Allow1810YesNo
17024671INTEGRATED CIRCUIT THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMSeptember 2020September 2023Allow3600NoNo
16979428Thermal Protection DeviceSeptember 2020August 2022Allow2320NoNo
17009365ELECTROSTATIC CHUCKSeptember 2020January 2022Allow1710YesNo
17009432ELECTROSTATIC CHUCKSeptember 2020February 2022Allow1710YesNo
17000711WAFER PLACEMENT DEVICEAugust 2020July 2023Allow3400YesNo
16997300CRYOGENIC ELECTROSTATIC CHUCKAugust 2020February 2022Allow1810YesNo
16970615ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK DEVICEAugust 2020October 2023Allow3810YesNo
16969260ELECTROSTATIC CHUCKS WITH COOLANT GAS ZONES AND CORRESPONDING GROOVE AND MONOPOLAR ELECTROSTATIC CLAMPING ELECTRODE PATTERNSAugust 2020February 2023Allow3000NoNo
16988128FAULT DETECTION CIRCUIT AND RELATED METHODSAugust 2020March 2022Allow2010NoNo
16943785Transformer Assembly and Method(s) of Use ThereofJuly 2020January 2024Abandon4110NoNo
16963996Dual Coil Armature for Supervision Relay of Trip CoilJuly 2020July 2023Allow3600YesNo
16914306METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BATTERY CURRENT MONITORINGJune 2020June 2022Allow2400YesNo
16913887INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE INCLUDING ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION AND CURRENT LIMITING CIRCUITRYJune 2020May 2024Abandon4620NoNo
16886345ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE FAULT PROTECTIONMay 2020May 2022Allow2310NoNo
16878863METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL OVERSTRESS AND ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTIONMay 2020April 2022Allow2320NoNo
16762855Triggerable Spark Gap, Switching Circuit Having a Triggerable Spark Gap, and Process for Manufacturing a Triggerable Spark GapMay 2020April 2022Allow2310YesNo
16761480MAGNETIC FIELD PROPULSION DRIVEMay 2020June 2022Allow2500YesNo
16863845MULTI-STAGE GATE TURN-OFF WITH DYNAMIC TIMINGApril 2020June 2022Allow2600YesNo
16853708Ground Fault Circuit InterrupterApril 2020March 2023Allow3510NoNo
16850219CIRCUIT FOR REDUCING FIRE HAZARD RISK IN A POWER DISTRIBUTION NETWORKApril 2020March 2022Allow2301YesNo
16842011SEMICONDUCTOR RELAY CONTROL DEVICEApril 2020December 2021Allow2000NoNo
16841003Network Service and Transformer Safety ProtectorApril 2020May 2022Allow2601YesNo
16834741COMPOSITE CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICEMarch 2020January 2022Allow2210NoNo
16832864Time Domain Distance Protection Based on Polarity Comparison for Power Transmission LinesMarch 2020May 2022Allow2500NoNo
16649970Electrical SwitchMarch 2020April 2021Allow1300YesNo
16817878Fusible Safety Disconnect in Solid State Circuit Breakers and Combination Motor StartersMarch 2020February 2022Allow2310NoNo
16804371Semiconductor DeviceFebruary 2020July 2022Allow2800YesNo
16797152APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR PASSIVE FAULT MONITORING OF CURRENT SENSING DEVICES IN PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERSFebruary 2020March 2022Allow2510YesNo
16783143OVER VOLTAGE DISCONNECTFebruary 2020June 2024Abandon5240YesYes
16782341CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HEATERFebruary 2020April 2022Allow2600NoNo
16777787POWER SUPPLY GROUNDING FAULT PROTECTION CIRCUITJanuary 2020December 2021Allow2310NoNo
16775836METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR PROTECTING AND CONTROLLING A MICROGRID WITH A DYNAMIC BOUNDARYJanuary 2020May 2022Allow2800NoNo
16632355DRIVING DEVICE OF DISPLAY PANELJanuary 2020February 2022Allow2500YesNo
16741178ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK AND ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAMEJanuary 2020March 2022Allow2610NoNo
16728589Overvoltage Protection and Linear Regulator Device ModuleDecember 2019January 2021Allow1220YesNo
16727229SAFETY APPARATUS HAVING TERMINAL SHIELD WITH INDICATION CIRCUIT, AND CIRCUIT INTERRUPTION APPARATUSDecember 2019December 2022Allow3520NoNo
16723374COMPLIANT, HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODSDecember 2019September 2021Allow2100YesNo
16721086SUBSTRATE PLACING TABLE AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUSDecember 2019August 2021Allow2010YesNo
16713148ENDOSCOPE AND DISCHARGE CONTROL UNITDecember 2019April 2022Allow2810NoNo
16704604CERAMIC-CIRCUIT COMPOSITE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAMEDecember 2019June 2022Allow3020YesNo
16701649PROTECTION CIRCUIT FOR OSCILLOSCOPE MEASUREMENT CHANNELDecember 2019February 2022Allow2700YesNo
16687574POWER CONVERTER, DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING POWER CONVERTER, SYSTEM INCLUDING DISPLAY DEVICE, AND METHOD OF DRIVING DISPLAY DEVICENovember 2019January 2022Allow2610NoNo
16680790QUICK BATTERY DISCONNECT SYSTEM FOR HIGH CURRENT CIRCUITSNovember 2019February 2022Allow2710YesNo
16677065GATE DRIVER AND PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR A SOLID-STATE SWITCHNovember 2019April 2022Allow2910YesNo
16671457METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING AN ELECTRIC ARC IN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMNovember 2019May 2022Allow3000YesNo
16666957CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS WITH LOCKOUT FEATURE AND RELATED METHODSOctober 2019April 2022Allow3000YesNo
16608938ELECTRICAL TRANSIENT MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAMEOctober 2019August 2021Abandon2210NoNo
16662042TRANSIENT VOLTAGE SUPPRESSION DEVICEOctober 2019March 2022Allow2930YesNo
16597904PROTECTING ANALOG OUTPUT CIRCUITS FROM SHORT CIRCUITSOctober 2019February 2022Allow2810NoNo
16596114Static EliminatorOctober 2019April 2022Allow3010YesNo
16595063INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE CONTROL METHOD FOR RESONANT CONVERTEROctober 2019November 2021Allow2500YesNo
16591369ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK AND ELECTROSTATIC ADSORPTION APPARATUS HAVING THE SAMEOctober 2019December 2021Allow2600NoNo
16582313SYSTEM FOR LIMITING INRUSH CURRENT IN A BATTERY ENDPOINTSeptember 2019April 2022Allow3100YesNo
16580576ELECTRONIC FUSESeptember 2019August 2021Allow2310NoNo
16581686Methods to Control Force in Reluctance Actuators Based on Flux Related ParametersSeptember 2019March 2022Allow2900NoNo
16495309DC CIRCUIT BREAKER HAVING ARC BLOWOUT DEVICESeptember 2019September 2021Allow2410YesNo
16492110VOLTAGE LIMITER WITH OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTIONSeptember 2019November 2021Allow2600YesNo
16538384PROCESSOR-BASED CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING DEVICESAugust 2019January 2022Allow3010YesNo
16484639SWITCH, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFAugust 2019August 2021Allow2510NoNo
16526627ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE WITH PARASITIC COMPENSATIONJuly 2019January 2022Allow2900NoNo
16524728ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERJuly 2019April 2021Allow2100YesNo
16522879SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEJuly 2019August 2021Allow2510NoNo
16511440PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A CIRCUITJuly 2019December 2020Allow1710NoNo
16512270Universal Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Device Incorporating A Water and Flame Barrier Button AssemblyJuly 2019September 2020Allow1400YesNo
16508336LC RESONATORJuly 2019February 2022Allow3200NoNo
16504369VEHICULAR STATIC ELIMINATING DEVICE AND VEHICLEJuly 2019February 2021Allow2000YesNo
16476446ELECTROSTATIC PROTECTION SYSTEM AND HAND-HELD VACUUM CLEANER USING THE SYSTEMJuly 2019June 2022Abandon3510NoNo
16447371CIRCUIT BREAKERSJune 2019December 2020Allow1800NoNo
16445380METHOD FOR DETECTING INSUFFICIENT CONTACT PRESSURE IN A SWITCHING UNIT, DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING SUCH A METHOD, AND SWITCHING UNIT INCLUDING SUCH A DEVICEJune 2019August 2021Allow2610NoNo
16446392Fault Current LimiterJune 2019February 2021Abandon2010NoNo
16446570Fault Current LimiterJune 2019February 2021Abandon2010NoNo
16445191POWER TRANSISTOR, A DRIVER, AND AN OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION CIRCUITJune 2019February 2022Allow3200YesNo
16467534LOW-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER DEVICEJune 2019October 2021Allow2800YesNo
16463900DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INTRODUCING A HIGH VOLTAGE INTO A SUBSTRATE WHICH COMPRISES BIOLOGICAL MATERIALJune 2019January 2024Abandon5510NoNo
16464003CIRCUIT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENERGIZING AND DISCHARGING A COILMay 2019March 2022Allow3420YesNo
16412795LEAKAGE CURRENT DETECTION AND INTERRUPTION DEVICE FOR POWER CORDMay 2019November 2020Allow1810YesNo
16411195TRANSFER UNIT AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAMEMay 2019November 2021Allow3000YesNo
16412053Fast Fault Current LimiterMay 2019March 2021Allow2210YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner COMBER, KEVIN J.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
3
Allowed After Appeal Filing
2
(66.7%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
1
(33.3%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
91.4%
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, 66.7% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is particularly effective here. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Strategic Recommendations

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

Examiner COMBER, KEVIN J - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner COMBER, KEVIN J works in Art Unit 2839 and has examined 240 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 89.6%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 28 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner COMBER, KEVIN J's allowance rate of 89.6% places them in the 72% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by COMBER, KEVIN J receive 0.95 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 6% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues significantly fewer office actions than most examiners.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by COMBER, KEVIN J is 28 months. This places the examiner in the 68% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +12.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by COMBER, KEVIN J. This interview benefit is in the 49% 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, 39.5% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 90% 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 36.4% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 56% 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, 200.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 96% 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 100.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 93% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 50.0% 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, 66.7% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 71% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show above-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Petitionable matters include restriction requirements (MPEP § 1002.02(c)(2)) and various procedural issues.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 25% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments less often than average. You may need to make most claim amendments yourself.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 1.9% of allowed cases (in the 70% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).

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.

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.