USPTO Examiner DUNNE KENNETH MICHAEL - Art Unit 3669

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
17139788TOWARD SIMULATION OF DRIVER BEHAVIOR IN DRIVING AUTOMATIONDecember 2020February 2024Allow3730YesNo
17133634VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD FOR PLATOONING, VEHICLE MOUNTED APPARATUS AND VEHICLEDecember 2020February 2023Allow2610NoNo
17126302PERSONAL PAPARAZZO DRONESDecember 2020September 2023Abandon3320YesNo
17123125MOBILE ROBOT ORBITING PHOTOGRAPHY PATH CONTROL METHODS AND APPARATUSESDecember 2020June 2023Allow3010NoNo
17124297OFF-SCREEN OBJECT INDICATIONS FOR A VEHICLE USER INTERFACEDecember 2020June 2023Allow3020YesNo
17118440METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 3D MODELINGDecember 2020January 2023Allow2510NoNo
17117423BOUNDARY DETECTION DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOFDecember 2020September 2023Abandon3310NoNo
17103764SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMAL VEHICLE DOWNFORCE ALLOCATIONNovember 2020July 2023Allow3120YesNo
17101919SYSTEM, METHOD, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND VEHICLE FOR AUTOMATED VALET PARKINGNovember 2020December 2022Allow2510NoNo
17056308SYSTEM AND METHOD USING IMAGE ANALYSIS FOR CONTROLLING A FLIGHT PATH OF A SURFACE INSPECTION UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLENovember 2020August 2023Allow3310NoNo
16949624ACTIVE GIMBAL STABILIZED AERIAL VISUAL-INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMNovember 2020July 2024Abandon4440YesNo
17088499SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ACTIVE SUSPENSION OF VEHICLENovember 2020November 2024Abandon4840YesNo
16756768SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH AT LEAST ONE REMOVABLE COVERINGOctober 2020July 2024Allow5130YesNo
17042706WEED CONTROL VEHICLESeptember 2020October 2024Abandon4930NoNo
17041497AERIAL VEHICLES, METHODS OF IMAGING A TUNNEL AND METHODS OF IMAGING A SHAFTSeptember 2020June 2024Abandon4430NoNo
17033036VEHICLE AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOFSeptember 2020June 2024Abandon4450NoNo
16898995APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING PEDESTRIAN COLLISION ACCIDENT, SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD THEREOFJune 2020May 2024Abandon4740YesNo
16767921METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DRONE DATA BY MATCHING USER WITH PROVIDERMay 2020February 2023Allow3320NoNo
16854658USING DRONE DATA TO GENERATE HIGH-DEFINITION MAP FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NAVIGATIONApril 2020October 2023Abandon4240YesNo
16755273AGRICULTURAL IMAGING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLEApril 2020September 2023Abandon4140NoNo
16638991Improved Multirotor Aircraft and Interface DeviceFebruary 2020March 2024Allow4940YesYes
16679700MEASUREMENT OF THREE DIMENSIONAL COORDINATES USING AN UNMANNED AERIAL DRONENovember 2019May 2023Abandon4240NoNo
16542660AUTONOMOUS ROBOT TO REMOVE PATHOGENS FROM A TARGET AREAAugust 2019February 2024Abandon5431YesNo
16536509Path Follower with Limited Steering Rate ControllerAugust 2019July 2023Abandon4750YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner DUNNE, KENNETH MICHAEL.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
1
Allowed After Appeal Filing
0
(0.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
1
(100.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
9.1%
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, 0.0% 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

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

Examiner DUNNE, KENNETH MICHAEL - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner DUNNE, KENNETH MICHAEL works in Art Unit 3669 and has examined 24 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 45.8%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 42 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner DUNNE, KENNETH MICHAEL's allowance rate of 45.8% places them in the 11% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by DUNNE, KENNETH MICHAEL receive 2.79 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 78% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues more office actions than most examiners, which may indicate thorough examination or difficulty in reaching agreement with applicants.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by DUNNE, KENNETH MICHAEL is 42 months. This places the examiner in the 20% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a -8.3% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by DUNNE, KENNETH MICHAEL. This interview benefit is in the 4% 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, 11.1% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 7% 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 10.0% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 11% 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.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 100.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 98% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 100.0% 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, 100.0% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 37% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 43% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions less often than average. Allowances may 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:

  • Prepare for rigorous examination: With a below-average allowance rate, ensure your application has strong written description and enablement support. Consider filing a continuation if you need to add new matter.
  • Expect multiple rounds of prosecution: This examiner issues more office actions than average. Address potential issues proactively in your initial response and consider requesting an interview early in prosecution.
  • Plan for RCE after final rejection: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments. Budget for an RCE in your prosecution strategy if you receive a final rejection.
  • 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.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.

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.