Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19054779 | CHIP DEFECT MODIFYING DEVICE AND METHOD | February 2025 | July 2025 | Allow | 5 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18858306 | Robotic Cover Sealer | October 2024 | July 2025 | Allow | 9 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18754195 | METHOD OF FORMING SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE | June 2024 | March 2026 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18731643 | METHOD OF ETCHING OBJECT AND ETCHING DEVICE | June 2024 | October 2025 | Abandon | 16 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18731337 | METHOD OF FORMING SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE | June 2024 | May 2025 | Allow | 11 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18679298 | ECO-EFFICIENCY (SUSTAINABILITY) DASHBOARD FOR SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING | May 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18670338 | INTEGRATED TOOL LIFT | May 2024 | January 2026 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18666686 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR A SUBSTRATE | May 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18655227 | LOW CAPACITANCE BIDIRECTIONAL TRANSIENT VOLTAGE SUPPRESSOR | May 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 12 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18641492 | DISPLAY DEVICE | April 2024 | May 2025 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18619636 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD | March 2024 | September 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18606621 | TREATMENTS TO ENHANCE MATERIAL STRUCTURES | March 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18604127 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING PHOTO RESIST OVER A SUBSTRATE | March 2024 | March 2025 | Allow | 12 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18594262 | DYNAMIC 3D OBJECT RECOGNITION AND PRINTING | March 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18444614 | ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE DISPLAY | February 2024 | August 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18420184 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE | January 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18538088 | MEMORY DEVICE WITH AIR GAP AND METHOD FOR PREPARING THE SAME | December 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 26 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18518461 | METHOD FOR OPERATING CONVEYING SYSTEM | November 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18518260 | LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE | November 2023 | October 2025 | Abandon | 22 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18475441 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES | September 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18476284 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE | September 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18469347 | SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE | September 2023 | December 2025 | Allow | 27 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18465194 | SELF-ALIGNED FLOATING GATE FORMATION IN NONVOLATILE MEMORY DEVICE FABRICATION | September 2023 | December 2025 | Allow | 27 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18280942 | DISPLAY DEVICE | September 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 26 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18460459 | SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE | September 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 30 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18241712 | CHIP-ON-FILM PACKAGE, DISPLAY PANEL, AND DISPLAY DEVICE | September 2023 | February 2025 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18279401 | DISPLAY PANEL | August 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 30 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18455449 | SPIN LOGIC DEVICE BASED ON SPIN-CHARGE CONVERSION AND SPIN LOGIC ARRAY USING THE SAME | August 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18358948 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE, METHOD OF HANDLING WAFER, AND METHOD OF HANDLING WORKPIECE | July 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18226750 | SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE | July 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18225474 | LIQUID STORAGE FOR FACILITY CHEMICAL SUPPLY SYSTEM | July 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 28 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18352382 | METHOD FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION OF CELL ETCH REDEPOSITION | July 2023 | October 2024 | Allow | 15 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18341651 | METHOD OF OPTIMIZING LASER CUTTING OF WAFERS FOR PRODUCING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DIES | June 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 26 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18337319 | METHOD AND CHAMBER FOR BACKSIDE PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION | June 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18335899 | INTEGRATED SUBSTRATE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM TO IMPROVE MANUFACTURING PROCESS PERFORMANCE | June 2023 | June 2024 | Allow | 12 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18255325 | TFT-LCD FLOAT GLASS SUBSTRATE PROCESSING LINE | May 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 27 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18254049 | SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING APPARATUS | May 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18199346 | METHOD OF FORMING SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE | May 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 12 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18197428 | SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME | May 2023 | December 2025 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18317347 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR NON-CONTACT TEMPERATURE MONITORING OF SUBSTRATE SUPPORTS | May 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18143223 | ROUTE BASED MANUFACTURING SYSTEM ANALYSIS, APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS | May 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18034787 | DISPLAY APPARATUS | May 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 27 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18303945 | LIGHT EMITTING MODULE AND DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME | April 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 27 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18032580 | DISPLAY PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE | April 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18136559 | SUBSTRATE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME | April 2023 | June 2024 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18301357 | SEMICONDUCTOR NANOCRYSTAL PARTICLES AND DEVICES INCLUDING THE SAME | April 2023 | March 2024 | Allow | 11 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18125236 | RUTHENIUM FILM FORMING METHOD AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING SYSTEM | March 2023 | October 2024 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18185596 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD OF PROCESSING SUBSTRATE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, AND PLASMA GENERATION DEVICE | March 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18044527 | PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENT | March 2023 | February 2024 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18178772 | DETECTING DAMAGED SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS UTILIZING A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER SORTER TOOL OF AN AUTOMATED MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM | March 2023 | November 2024 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18176189 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE | February 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18173489 | DEEP TRENCH CAPACITOR AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME | February 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 27 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18106769 | VIA-FILLING METHOD OF THROUGH-GLASS VIA SUBSTRATE | February 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 28 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18040927 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME | February 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 37 | 2 | 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 18104148 | ENGINEERED SUBSTRATE STRUCTURES FOR POWER AND RF APPLICATIONS | January 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 19 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18162413 | ENHANCED CONTROL USING AI IN APPARATUS HAVING IR CAMERA HEAT DETECTION SYSTEM | January 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18161968 | HIGH-DENSITY SUBSTRATE PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS | January 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18160957 | ROBOT BLADE HAVING MULTIPLE SENSORS FOR MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT TASKS | January 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 38 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18155549 | THIN FILM DEPOSITION METHOD AND METHOD OF FABRICATING ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME | January 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 32 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18097265 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME | January 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 28 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18096711 | MULTI-ZONE AZIMUTHAL HEATER | January 2023 | July 2024 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18015714 | MOUNTING APPARATUS, MOUNTING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM | January 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 37 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18093085 | WAFER SHIFT DETECTION | January 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 28 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18092542 | IMAGE SENSOR PACKAGE WITH LOW LIGHT-SENSING NOISE | January 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18012786 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING SYSTEM, SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD, AND MAP CREATING DEVICE | December 2022 | January 2026 | Allow | 37 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18084378 | MACHINE-LEARNED PHARMACOLOGY OPTIMIZATION | December 2022 | April 2025 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18083074 | TRANSPORTATION METHOD | December 2022 | October 2024 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18078478 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, AND RECORDING MEDIUM | December 2022 | February 2026 | Allow | 39 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18074734 | Apparatus for Hydrogen Assisted Atmospheric Radical Oxidation | December 2022 | February 2024 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17993721 | System and Methods for Wafer Drying | November 2022 | February 2024 | Allow | 15 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17991193 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND USER INTERFACE FOR EDGE RING WEAR COMPENSATION | November 2022 | October 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17987867 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE | November 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 22 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17988286 | CHIP MATCHING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF | November 2022 | June 2024 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18054487 | PLANARIZATION APPARATUS, PLANARIZATION PROCESS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN ARTICLE | November 2022 | December 2024 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18053546 | Selective High-K Formation in Gate-Last Process | November 2022 | March 2026 | Allow | 40 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 17973618 | PHOTONICS CHIPS INCLUDING A FULLY-DEPLETED SILICON-ON-INSULATOR FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR | October 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 22 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18048190 | WAFER HOLDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE | October 2022 | January 2026 | Allow | 39 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18046400 | SUSCEPTOR, EPITAXIAL GROWTH APPARATUS, METHOD OF PRODUCING EPITAXIAL SILICON WAFER, AND EPITAXIAL SILICON WAFER | October 2022 | January 2024 | Allow | 15 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18045119 | MAPPING OF A REPLACEMENT PARTS STORAGE CONTAINER | October 2022 | February 2024 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17938285 | INTEGRATED TOOL LIFT | October 2022 | February 2024 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17935705 | ARRAY SUBSTRATE, DISPLAY PANEL AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING BAD SPOTS ON THE PANEL | September 2022 | February 2026 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17950001 | Method and Apparatus for In-Situ Dry Development | September 2022 | August 2025 | Allow | 35 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17933095 | PROCESS MONITOR AND PROCESS MONITORING METHOD | September 2022 | August 2025 | Allow | 35 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17931902 | LOW CAPACITANCE BIDIRECTIONAL TRANSIENT VOLTAGE SUPPRESSOR | September 2022 | January 2024 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17942277 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS | September 2022 | January 2026 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17942839 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM | September 2022 | January 2026 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17941686 | PRODUCTION APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STRUCTURAL BODY AND PRODUCTION METHOD FOR PRODUCING STRUCTURAL BODY | September 2022 | October 2025 | Abandon | 37 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17940135 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM | September 2022 | November 2025 | Allow | 38 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17902688 | SEQUENCER TIME LEAPING EXECUTION | September 2022 | January 2024 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17902357 | METHOD AND CHAMBER FOR BACKSIDE PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION | September 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17801935 | MICRO-LED DEVICE | August 2022 | November 2025 | Allow | 39 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17889216 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING A LAYERED SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE FOR NAND MEMORY DEVICES | August 2022 | September 2025 | Allow | 37 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17886687 | SUBSTRATE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD | August 2022 | January 2024 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17885038 | HYBRID PATTERNING-BONDING SEMICONDUCTOR TOOL | August 2022 | April 2025 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17818370 | METHOD FOR OPERATING CONVEYING SYSTEM | August 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17883505 | LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE | August 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17883581 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING PHOTO RESIST OVER A SUBSTRATE | August 2022 | December 2023 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17880473 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF RF COMPONENTS | August 2022 | November 2024 | Allow | 27 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17877582 | AUTOMATED OVERLAY REMOVAL DURING WAFER SINGULATION | July 2022 | October 2025 | Allow | 38 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17874691 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE | July 2022 | October 2025 | Allow | 39 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner SHAMSUZZAMAN, MOHAMMED.
With a 28.6% 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.
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, 35.1% 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.
⚠ 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 SHAMSUZZAMAN, MOHAMMED works in Art Unit 2897 and has examined 1,017 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 82.8%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 23 months.
Examiner SHAMSUZZAMAN, MOHAMMED's allowance rate of 82.8% places them in the 56% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by SHAMSUZZAMAN, MOHAMMED receive 1.54 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 28% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by SHAMSUZZAMAN, MOHAMMED is 23 months. This places the examiner in the 87% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications move through prosecution relatively quickly with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +60.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by SHAMSUZZAMAN, MOHAMMED. This interview benefit is in the 97% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner and should be strongly considered as a prosecution strategy. Per MPEP § 713.10, interviews are available at any time before the Notice of Allowance is mailed or jurisdiction transfers to the PTAB.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 33.5% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 73% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. Consider whether your amendments or new arguments are strong enough to warrant an RCE versus filing a continuation.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 16.1% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 18% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments compared to other examiners. You should generally plan to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry. Per MPEP § 714.12, primary examiners have discretion in entering after-final amendments, and this examiner exercises that discretion conservatively.
When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 70.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 58% 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.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 81.1% of appeals filed. This is in the 74% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 56.7% 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.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 34.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 22% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are rarely granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing a petition, as the Technology Center Director typically upholds this examiner's decisions.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.2% of allowed cases (in the 52% 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 0.2% of allowed cases (in the 52% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).
Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:
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.