USPTO Examiner ZARNEKE DAVID A - Art Unit 2891

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18884085Method for Packaging Stacking Flip ChipSeptember 2024January 2025Allow401NoNo
18826815ELECTRONIC PACKAGE AND FABRICATING METHOD THEREOFSeptember 2024November 2025Allow1400NoNo
18765653METHODS OF FORMING WIRE INTERCONNECT STRUCTURES AND RELATED WIRE BONDING TOOLSJuly 2024April 2025Allow900YesNo
18746055INTERCONNECTION STRUCTUREJune 2024October 2025Allow1600NoNo
18733947TRENCH ISOLATION STRUCTURE FOR SCALED PIXEL REGIONJune 2024February 2026Allow2101NoNo
18663124BONDING STRUCTURE AND METHOD THEREOFMay 2024February 2026Allow2101NoNo
18657968DOUBLE-SIDED INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MODULE HAVING AN EXPOSED SEMICONDUCTOR DIEMay 2024October 2025Allow1711YesNo
18654016BONDING TOOL AND BONDING METHOD THEREOFMay 2024June 2025Allow1301YesNo
18650172ABSORPTION ENHANCEMENT STRUCTURE TO INCREASE QUANTUM EFFICIENCY OF IMAGE SENSORApril 2024August 2025Allow1511YesNo
18643860IMAGE SENSOR DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFApril 2024September 2025Allow1711NoNo
18602185METHOD FOR FORMING A PACKAGE STRUCTUREMarch 2024October 2025Allow1911NoNo
18597172CHIP BONDING APPARATUS AND SECURING ASSEMBLY THEREFORMarch 2024May 2024Allow200NoNo
18596488ULTRA SMALL MOLDED MODULE INTEGRATED WITH DIE BY MODULE-ON-WAFER ASSEMBLYMarch 2024September 2025Allow1911YesNo
18591803Epitaxial Structure And Transistor Including The SameFebruary 2024November 2024Allow810NoNo
18685871BONDING WIRE FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICESFebruary 2024June 2024Allow400NoNo
18582381WAFER BONDING APPARATUS AND METHODFebruary 2024June 2025Allow1610NoNo
18422017METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEJanuary 2024January 2025Allow1210NoNo
18422346DIELECTRIC LINERS ON THROUGH GLASS VIASJanuary 2024July 2024Allow501YesNo
18414740ELECTRONIC PACKAGE, PACKAGE SUBSTRATE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFJanuary 2024February 2026Allow2510NoNo
18399127EMBEDDED LIQUID COOLINGDecember 2023July 2024Allow700NoNo
18398124MICRO DEVICE ARRANGEMENT IN DONOR SUBSTRATEDecember 2023May 2025Allow1720NoNo
18397505EMBEDDED COOLING ASSEMBLIES FOR ADVANCED DEVICE PACKAGING AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAMEDecember 2023July 2024Allow700YesNo
18530496PACKAGE FOR POWER ELECTRONICSDecember 2023June 2025Allow1810NoNo
18523457METAL OXIDE LAYERED STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAMENovember 2023January 2026Allow2621NoNo
18518636SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFNovember 2023February 2025Allow1401NoNo
18513924LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICENovember 2023July 2024Allow801NoNo
18511444SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUSNovember 2023March 2025Allow1601NoNo
18505325POWER MODULE APPARATUS, COOLING STRUCTURE, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLENovember 2023May 2025Allow1811NoNo
18387093METHOD OF USING PROCESSING OVENNovember 2023April 2025Allow1811NoNo
18487068BONDING SYSTEM AND BONDING METHODOctober 2023June 2025Allow2011NoNo
18487071BONDING SYSTEM AND BONDING METHODOctober 2023February 2025Allow1601NoNo
18483564MICRO-ELEMENT, ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND ASSEMBLING METHODOctober 2023September 2025Allow2301NoNo
18370476IMAGE SENSOR AND DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING THE SAMESeptember 2023August 2024Allow1101YesNo
18240462IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAMEAugust 2023July 2024Allow1011YesNo
18279608LEAD FRAME AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFAugust 2023February 2026Abandon3041YesNo
18240235SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEAugust 2023November 2024Allow1501NoNo
18238049SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFAugust 2023March 2026Allow3101NoNo
18229071SCALABLE QUANTUM PROCESSOR DESIGNAugust 2023May 2024Allow900NoNo
18358969MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE USING JIGJuly 2023September 2024Allow1401NoNo
18225249SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTUREJuly 2023October 2024Allow1410NoNo
18357780SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING DEVICE INSIDE THROUGH-SILICON VIA SURROUNDINGSJuly 2023July 2024Allow1201YesNo
18355481IMAGE SENSOR WITH OVERLAP OF BACKSIDE TRENCH ISOLATION STRUCTURE AND VERTICAL TRANSFER GATEJuly 2023November 2024Allow1601NoNo
18260352HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE AND POWER CONVERSION DEVICEJuly 2023December 2025Allow2901NoNo
18342091METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A DISPLAY APPARATUSJune 2023June 2025Allow2411YesNo
18340323SILICON CARBIDE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEJune 2023January 2026Allow3101YesNo
18211898ELECTRONIC DEVICES INCLUDING VENT OPENINGS AND ASSOCIATED METHODSJune 2023February 2025Allow2002NoNo
18332990Semiconductor Die Connection System and MethodJune 2023September 2024Allow1520NoNo
18208415REDISTRIBUTION SUBSTRATE, SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF FABRICATING REDISTRIBUTION SUBSTRATEJune 2023November 2025Allow2901NoNo
18206363HERMETICALLY SEALED MEMS MIRROR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTUREJune 2023April 2024Allow1110NoNo
18327195IMAGE SENSING DEVICEJune 2023December 2024Allow1811NoNo
18199988METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A FLUORESCENT SUBSTANCEMay 2023August 2025Allow2611NoNo
18144691POWER MODULEMay 2023December 2025Allow3101NoNo
18309122SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUSApril 2023May 2024Allow1301NoNo
18140568DISPLAY DEVICEApril 2023May 2024Allow1300NoNo
18250633SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR, AND CHIP BONDING STRUCTUREApril 2023December 2025Allow3201YesNo
18304641Semiconductor Device and Methods of Making and Using an Enhanced Carrier to Reduce Electrostatic DischargeApril 2023December 2025Allow3220NoNo
18303302Bonding Structure and Method of Forming SameApril 2023June 2024Allow1410NoNo
18300379CHIP PACKAGING DEVICE, CHIP PACKAGING METHOD, AND PACKAGE CHIPApril 2023July 2023Allow301NoNo
18298780Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging Intermediate Structure Apparatus and MethodApril 2023March 2024Allow1210NoNo
18132629SEMICONDUCTOR DIE PACKAGEApril 2023December 2025Allow3221NoYes
18132496Image Sensors With Dummy Pixel StructuresApril 2023October 2023Allow600NoNo
18295512CUTTING APPARATUSApril 2023January 2026Allow3310YesNo
18130014MANUFACTURING METHOD OF IMAGE SENSORApril 2023November 2025Allow3201NoNo
18123296INTEGRATED CIRCUIT HAVING CONTACT JUMPERMarch 2023July 2025Allow2800NoNo
18182434PACKAGED CURRENT SENSOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITMarch 2023July 2025Allow2811NoNo
18182482SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A TOP SIDE COOLED POWER SEMICONDUCTOR THERMAL INTERFACE SPACERMarch 2023October 2025Allow3101NoNo
18119560INTEGRATED CIRCUIT HAVING CONTACT JUMPERMarch 2023September 2023Allow700YesNo
18179894MICRO DEVICE ARRANGEMENT IN DONOR SUBSTRATEMarch 2023September 2023Allow600YesNo
18043950SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICEMarch 2023February 2026Allow3620NoNo
18175980POWER MODULES FOR CIRCUIT PROTECTIONFebruary 2023November 2025Allow3201NoNo
18111134Apparatus and Method for Wafer Oxide Removal and Reflow TreatmentFebruary 2023September 2025Allow3101YesNo
18166116BOND HEAD WITH ELASTIC MATERIAL AROUND PERIMETER TO IMPROVE BONDING QUALITYFebruary 2023February 2026Allow3611NoNo
181058563D MEMORY DEVICES AND STRUCTURES WITH CONTROL CIRCUITSFebruary 2023May 2023Allow400YesNo
18103385SELECTIVELY BONDING LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICES VIA A PULSED LASERJanuary 2023October 2024Abandon2101YesNo
18155928MULTIPATTERNING GATE PROCESSINGJanuary 2023May 2025Allow2800NoNo
18097128DISPLAY DEVICEJanuary 2023September 2025Allow3201YesNo
18096332DISPLAY APPARATUS HAVING DISPLAY MODULE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFJanuary 2023May 2025Allow2800NoNo
18088204ANTI-DIFFUSION SUBSTRATE STRUCTURE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFDecember 2022January 2026Allow3701NoNo
18083963SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGES WITH INDICATIONS OF DIE-SPECIFIC INFORMATIONDecember 2022July 2025Abandon3140NoNo
18066292METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEDecember 2022October 2023Allow1010NoNo
18063268IMAGE SENSOR PACKAGEDecember 2022July 2025Allow3201NoNo
18071845DISC CELL ASSEMBLY CLAMPNovember 2022October 2025Allow3401NoNo
17994153SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE WITH DOPED VIA PLUGNovember 2022October 2023Allow1110NoNo
18057222SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICENovember 2022February 2025Allow2741YesNo
17989894SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE HAVING ROUTABLE ENCAPSULATED CONDUCTIVE SUBSTRATE AND METHODNovember 2022March 2024Allow1611NoNo
18056393INFRARED DEBOND DAMAGE MITIGATION BY COPPER FILL PATTERNNovember 2022March 2025Allow2801NoNo
17925377MULTILAYER TAPE INCLUDING PLURALITY OF MAGNETIC METAL PARTICLES AND ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE SAMENovember 2022July 2025Allow3201NoNo
17984748CHIPLETS WITH CONNECTION POSTSNovember 2022November 2023Allow1201YesNo
18053480PACKAGED CURRENT SENSOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITNovember 2022October 2024Allow2311NoNo
18053410CHIP CHUCK AND A METHOD OF USING THE SAMENovember 2022July 2025Allow3301NoNo
18053570LUMIPHORIC MATERIAL STRUCTURES FOR LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE PACKAGES AND RELATED METHODSNovember 2022March 2026Allow4031YesNo
17979550SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICENovember 2022July 2024Abandon2020NoNo
17976908DISPLAY MODULEOctober 2022August 2023Allow1001NoNo
17971854DIRECT SUBSTRATE TO SOLDER BUMP CONNECTION FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT IN FLIP CHIP AMPLIFIERSOctober 2022May 2025Allow3100YesNo
17969709ON-CHIP INTEGRATION OF OPTICAL COMPONENTS WITH PHOTONIC WIRE BONDS AND/OR LENSESOctober 2022February 2026Allow4011NoNo
18047049MICROFEATURE WORKPIECES AND METHODS FOR FORMING INTERCONNECTS IN MICROFEATURE WORKPIECESOctober 2022February 2024Allow1620NoNo
179499883D MEMORY DEVICES AND STRUCTURES WITH CONTROL CIRCUITSSeptember 2022January 2023Allow410NoNo
17947702IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAMESeptember 2022May 2024Allow2010NoNo
17944114WIRING STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAMESeptember 2022April 2025Abandon3140NoNo
17941461METAL-DIELECTRIC BONDING METHOD AND STRUCTURESeptember 2022January 2024Allow1610YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner ZARNEKE, DAVID A.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
10
Examiner Affirmed
8
(80.0%)
Examiner Reversed
2
(20.0%)
Reversal Percentile
32.8%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 20.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is below the USPTO average, indicating that appeals face more challenges here than typical.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
82
Allowed After Appeal Filing
28
(34.1%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
54
(65.9%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
56.3%
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, 34.1% 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 ZARNEKE, DAVID A - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner ZARNEKE, DAVID A works in Art Unit 2891 and has examined 1,404 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 80.2%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 27 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner ZARNEKE, DAVID A's allowance rate of 80.2% places them in the 50% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by ZARNEKE, DAVID A receive 1.66 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 33% 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 ZARNEKE, DAVID A is 27 months. This places the examiner in the 73% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a -0.8% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by ZARNEKE, DAVID A. This interview benefit is in the 11% 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, 23.6% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 33% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show below-average effectiveness with this examiner. Carefully evaluate whether an RCE or continuation is the better strategy.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 20.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 25% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows below-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. You may need to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 131.2% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 84% 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 85.3% of appeals filed. This is in the 78% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 69.0% 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, 50.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 48% 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 10.5% of allowed cases (in the 94% 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 2.0% of allowed cases (in the 68% 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:

  • 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.