Based on the USPTO's most recent numbers on examination, I created an updated table of the average delay until a first office action is mailed from the PTO. These numbers reflect an average for each technology center as it operates today. The 3.7 year delay in Fuel Cell and Battery Technology (TC 1795) means that the applications receiving first office actions from that TC during the past three months were filed 3.7 years ago on average — taking us back to early 2005. The numbers do not necessarily reflect how long it would take for an application filed today to make it through. (Although it is perhaps one of the better estimates that we have on hand.).
Technology Center | Description | Months | Years |
1795 | Fuel cells batteries solar | 44.8 | 3.7 |
1791 | Tires, adhesive bonding, glass | 43.8 | 3.7 |
1797 | Separation, purification | 43.8 | 3.7 |
1610 | Pharmaceutical formulations | 42.9 | 3.6 |
3680-B | Business Methods | 42.3 | 3.5 |
3620 | Electronic Commerce | 40.7 | 3.4 |
1792 | Coating etching cleaning | 40.4 | 3.4 |
1794 | Food stock materials | 39.4 | 3.3 |
2130 | Cryptography security | 39.2 | 3.3 |
2140 | Computer networks | 38.8 | 3.2 |
2190 | Interprocess communications | 38.5 | 3.2 |
2620 | Television and TV Recording | 37.2 | 3.1 |
1796 | Organic chemistry and polymers | 35.4 | 3.0 |
1793 | Metallurgy metal working | 34.9 | 2.9 |
2610 | Digital Communications General | 34.8 | 2.9 |
1620 | Organic chemistry | 34.1 | 2.8 |
3640 | Aeronautics | 34.1 | 2.8 |
3680-A | Business Methods - Finance | 33.9 | 2.8 |
3630 | Static structures | 30.5 | 2.5 |
3650 | Material handling | 29.3 | 2.4 |
2110 | Computer architecture | 29.2 | 2.4 |
3610 | Surface transportation | 29.1 | 2.4 |
2120 | Miscellaneous computer | 28.3 | 2.4 |
3780 | Package and Article Carriers | 26.9 | 2.2 |
2160 | Database and file management | 26.9 | 2.2 |
3670 | Wells earth boring | 26.7 | 2.2 |
3680-A | Machine elements | 26.7 | 2.2 |
1630 | Molecular biology | 25.9 | 2.2 |
1650 | Fermentation microbiology | 25.6 | 2.1 |
2180 | Computer architecture | 24.9 | 2.1 |
3750 | Fluid handling and | 24.9 | 2.1 |
1640 | Immunology receptor ligands | 24.2 | 2.0 |
2811+ | Semiconductors and | 23.9 | 2.0 |
2871+ | Liquid crystals optical | 23.7 | 2.0 |
3730 | Medical instruments | 23.4 | 2.0 |
3710 | Amusement | 22.9 | 1.9 |
2816+ | Electronic circuits static | 22.6 | 1.9 |
3660 | Computerized vehicle | 22.4 | 1.9 |
3770 | Respirators Therapeutic | 21.9 | 1.8 |
2831+ | Electronic conductors | 21.9 | 1.8 |
3760 | Body treatment | 21.4 | 1.8 |
1660 | Plants | 21.3 | 1.8 |
3720 | Manufacturing devices | 20.4 | 1.7 |
