USPTO Examiner KIRBY BRIAN R - Art Unit 3747

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18441368METHODS FOR HARNESSING WAVE ENERGYFebruary 2024January 2025Allow1210NoNo
18370546POWER MANAGEMENT FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLESSeptember 2023February 2025Allow1710NoNo
18272079METHOD OF OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE OF A WATERCRAFTAugust 2023July 2024Allow1210NoNo
18446736CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLEAugust 2023May 2025Allow2110NoNo
18134294CONTROL DEVICE OF VEHICLEApril 2023December 2023Allow810NoNo
18125750DRIVING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND DRIVING ASSISTANCE METHODMarch 2023June 2025Allow2610YesNo
18188570VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICEMarch 2023February 2025Allow2310NoNo
18186144METHOD TO MITIGATE REVERSE OIL FLOW TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER VIA HYBRID CYLINDER CUTOUT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESMarch 2023April 2024Abandon1320YesNo
18121604CONTROL DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUMMarch 2023May 2025Allow2610NoNo
18121612VEHICLE SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUMMarch 2023May 2025Allow2610NoNo
18120713BRAKE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODSMarch 2023April 2025Allow2510YesNo
18120297ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAMEMarch 2023December 2024Allow2100NoNo
18112528VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUMFebruary 2023March 2025Allow2510NoNo
18100817ATTITUDE ESTIMATION SYSTEM, CONTROL SYSTEM, AND ATTITUDE ESTIMATION METHODJanuary 2023January 2025Allow2310YesNo
18100684METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE USING MACHINE LEARNINGJanuary 2023May 2025Allow2710NoNo
18156826STEERING CONTROL DEVICE AND STANDARD VALUE ADJUSTMENT METHODJanuary 2023December 2024Allow2310NoNo
18156169PROCESSING UNIT AND METHOD THEREIN FOR ENABLING RELIABLE RANGE ESTIMATIONS FOR A VEHICLE ALONG A ROUTEJanuary 2023March 2025Allow2610NoNo
18098687PATH GENERATION APPARATUS AND PATH GENERATION METHODJanuary 2023January 2025Allow2310NoNo
18098692PATH GENERATION APPARATUS AND PATH GENERATION METHODJanuary 2023January 2025Allow2310NoNo
18155089VEHICULAR RADAR SYSTEM FOR PREDICTING LANES USING SMART CAMERA INPUTJanuary 2023February 2025Allow2510NoNo
18097458LANE CHANGE CONTROL METHOD, VEHICLE-MOUNTED DEVICE AND READABLE STORAGE MEDIUMJanuary 2023September 2024Allow2000YesNo
18148623Vehicle Lane Control SystemDecember 2022April 2025Abandon2810NoNo
18068976SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR A REGENERATIVE DEVICEDecember 2022April 2025Abandon2810NoNo
17927179Fuel PumpNovember 2022February 2024Allow1530NoNo
18057687PRESSURE REGULATOR AND FUEL PUMP MODULE HAVING THE SAMENovember 2022September 2023Allow1010NoNo
17982149SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO MINIMIZE EMISSIONS SPIKES WHEN REACTIVATING OR DEACTIVATING A COMBUSTION CYLINDERNovember 2022June 2023Allow700NoNo
17974752Device And Method of Use for Mapping Out the Layout of a Room Without Human PresenceOctober 2022March 2025Abandon2910NoNo
18049779APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR SHUTDOWN OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE BY VALVE DEACTIVATIONOctober 2022March 2024Abandon1610NoNo
17971826INTAKE DEVICE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEOctober 2022August 2023Allow910NoNo
17787652FLUID DISTRIBUTOR FOR AN INJECTION SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR, FUEL DISTRIBUTOR RAIL FOR A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FOR MIXTURE-COMPRESSING, SPARK IGNITION INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESOctober 2022April 2024Allow2220NoNo
17969229AXISYMMETRIC INJECTOR HOLD-DOWN LOAD RINGOctober 2022September 2023Allow1110NoNo
17950806MOTOR GENERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM AND HYBRID VEHICLESeptember 2022August 2023Allow1100NoNo
17930892CYLINDER DEACTIVATION EXPANDED OPERATIONAL RANGE WITH ADDITIONAL AIR SOURCE INTEGRATED WITH TURBOCHARGERSeptember 2022January 2024Allow1610NoNo
17899038EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION FLOW CONTROL FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS WITH VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESAugust 2022January 2024Allow1610NoNo
17800319TAPPET FOR ACTING ON A PUMP PISTON OF A HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMPAugust 2022November 2023Allow1510YesNo
17819830FLAME TRIGGERED AND CONTROLLED VOLUMETRIC IGNITIONAugust 2022December 2023Allow1620YesNo
17868205SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING EXHIBITED USEFUL LIFE OF SENSORS IN MONITORED SYSTEMSJuly 2022December 2023Allow1710NoNo
17864752ENGINE INTAKE SYSTEMJuly 2022February 2023Allow700NoNo
17811023CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PASSENGER PROTECTION DEVICEJuly 2022April 2024Allow2110YesNo
17783291INJECTOR APPARATUSJune 2022August 2023Allow1410NoNo
17744751CONTROL APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLEMay 2022September 2023Allow1610YesNo
17727831MOTOR-DRIVEN POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFApril 2022March 2024Allow2200NoNo
17722255Replaceable Valve AssemblyApril 2022December 2023Abandon2020NoNo
17763697FUEL INJECTOR AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE INCLUDING FUEL INJECTORMarch 2022September 2023Allow1810NoNo
17654740METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR STALL TORQUE DERATINGMarch 2022December 2023Allow2110NoNo
17654306DAMPING INSULATOR FOR FUEL INJECTION DEVICEMarch 2022July 2023Abandon1620NoNo
17681858VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUMFebruary 2022March 2024Allow2510NoNo
17638532A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMFebruary 2022February 2024Allow2420YesNo
17679373ELECTRICALLY POWERED SUSPENSION SYSTEMFebruary 2022March 2024Allow2510NoNo
17674758CONTROLLER FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLEFebruary 2022August 2023Allow1710NoNo
17673479METHODS FOR HARNESSING WAVE ENERGYFebruary 2022November 2023Allow2100NoNo
17650042METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLYFebruary 2022June 2023Allow1710NoNo
17632441DELAYING CYLINDER REACTIVATIONFebruary 2022October 2023Allow2020YesNo
17631673Method and Device for Checking the State of the Outlet Valves of an Engine of a Motor VehicleJanuary 2022June 2023Allow1710NoNo
17581584SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE, AND ENGINE CONTROL DEVICEJanuary 2022January 2023Allow1210NoNo
17579791Suspension System with On-Demand Full Damper CapacityJanuary 2022April 2024Allow2610NoNo
17569308FAST TORQUE RESPONSE FOR BOOSTED ENGINESJanuary 2022February 2023Allow1310NoNo
17619626A CONTROLLER AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEDecember 2021May 2023Allow1710NoNo
17457759VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHODDecember 2021October 2023Allow2210YesNo
17541911ENGINE-EQUIPPED VEHICLEDecember 2021August 2023Allow2120NoNo
17541135CONTROL DEVICE FOR HYBRID VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR HYBRID VEHICLEDecember 2021August 2023Allow2010NoNo
17538949CONTROL DEVICE OF VEHICLE AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONTROL DEVICENovember 2021July 2023Allow2010NoNo
17520604MISFIRE DETECTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINENovember 2021October 2022Allow1110NoNo
17452526METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REACTIVATING A CATALYSTOctober 2021September 2023Allow2320NoNo
17606623INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONTROLLEROctober 2021March 2023Allow1710NoNo
17452209METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIAGNOSING ENGINE CYLINDERSOctober 2021February 2024Allow2821NoNo
17505803HIGH-PRESSURE PUMPOctober 2021August 2022Allow910NoNo
17499620SUSPENSION LEAK CHECK SYSTEMS AND METHODSOctober 2021October 2023Allow2410YesNo
17450036METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIAGNOSING ENGINE CYLINDERSOctober 2021December 2022Allow1410NoNo
17491718IGNITION TIMING CONTROLLER AND IGNITION TIMING CONTROL METHOD FOR MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEOctober 2021June 2022Allow900NoNo
17482463CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD OF HYBRID VEHICLESeptember 2021July 2023Abandon2220YesNo
17469884CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HYBRID VEHICLESeptember 2021February 2023Abandon1710NoNo
17463709TANK DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLESeptember 2021January 2023Allow1610NoNo
17373247RECHARGING MANAGEMENT FOR SKIPPING CYLINDERSJuly 2021December 2023Allow2920YesNo
17369561INSERT DEVICE FOR FUEL INJECTIONJuly 2021November 2022Allow1610NoNo
17304023MISFIRE DETECTION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEJune 2021February 2022Allow810NoNo
17345231MISFIRE DETECTION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEJune 2021March 2022Allow910NoNo
17332712METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE INLET PRESSURE VIA A FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM OF A TRANSPORT CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEMMay 2021August 2023Allow2620YesNo
17331213ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE CONTROL WITH DISTRIBUTION OF POWERTRAIN TORQUE TO SECONDARY AXLEMay 2021July 2023Abandon2620NoNo
17320875Detecting Cylinder-Specific Combustion Profile Parameter Values For An Internal Combustion EngineMay 2021September 2022Allow1620YesNo
17320563FUEL INJECTION DEVICE COMPRISING A NOZZLE INSERTMay 2021June 2022Abandon1310NoNo
17302789METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR STARTING AN ENGINEMay 2021July 2022Allow1420NoNo
17306549DRIVING ASSISTANCE APPARATUSMay 2021August 2023Allow2810NoNo
17246678POWER MANAGEMENT FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLESMay 2021June 2023Allow2610NoNo
17233233METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING SKIPPED CYLINDERS TO PROVIDE SECONDARY AIRApril 2021March 2022Allow1110YesNo
17233259METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING SKIPPED CYLINDERS TO PROVIDE SECONDARY AIRApril 2021February 2022Allow1010NoNo
17233250METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING SKIPPED CYLINDERS TO PROVIDE SECONDARY AIRApril 2021February 2022Allow1010NoNo
17227537RELUCTOR PLATE CONTROLLERApril 2021July 2022Allow1510YesNo
17283117METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTING ENGINE, AND CORRESPONDING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEApril 2021February 2023Allow2220YesNo
17283024PRESSURE DETECTION SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE, ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM, AND PROGRAMApril 2021November 2022Abandon1910NoNo
17281640High-Pressure Fuel PumpMarch 2021May 2022Allow1310NoNo
17211647DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING A GASEOUS FUEL TO AN ENGINEMarch 2021January 2023Allow2230YesNo
17202620METHOD FOR DETECTING VALVE LEAKAGE IN A COMBUSTION ENGINEMarch 2021May 2022Allow1420YesNo
17275920PULSATION DAMPERMarch 2021March 2022Allow1220YesNo
17193543VEHICLEMarch 2021October 2022Allow1910NoNo
17273083METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINEMarch 2021March 2023Allow2530YesNo
17272526SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING DEACTIVATION OF A CYLINDER OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE SYSTEMMarch 2021October 2022Allow2020YesNo
17186979EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION FLOW CONTROL FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS WITH VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESFebruary 2021June 2022Allow1610NoNo
17183980FUEL INJECTION DEVICEFebruary 2021November 2021Allow910YesNo
17183029METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO DECREASE CHARGE AIR COOLER CONDENSATEFebruary 2021May 2022Allow1510NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner KIRBY, BRIAN R.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
5
Examiner Affirmed
4
(80.0%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(20.0%)
Reversal Percentile
32.6%
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
11
Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(27.3%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
8
(72.7%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
37.2%
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, 27.3% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is below the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal has limited effectiveness in prompting favorable 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 shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner KIRBY, BRIAN R - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner KIRBY, BRIAN R works in Art Unit 3747 and has examined 407 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 71.7%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 28 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner KIRBY, BRIAN R's allowance rate of 71.7% places them in the 27% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by KIRBY, BRIAN R receive 1.71 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 49% 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 KIRBY, BRIAN R is 28 months. This places the examiner in the 54% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +17.7% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by KIRBY, BRIAN R. This interview benefit is in the 64% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide an above-average benefit with this examiner and are worth considering.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 29.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 49% 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 31.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 38% 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, 100.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 75% 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 54.5% of appeals filed. This is in the 21% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 33.3% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner rarely withdraws rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. If you file an appeal, be prepared to fully prosecute it to a PTAB decision. Per MPEP § 1207, the examiner will prepare an Examiner's Answer maintaining the rejections.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 30.8% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 23% 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 Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 40% 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 40% 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:

  • 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.

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.