Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 11/17/2025 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed 11/17/2025, with respect to claim 13 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claim 13 has been withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 18-20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Regarding claim 18, the limitation “determining positions of the first plurality of dummy dies in the wafer based on positions of the second plurality of active dies in the wafer” (emphasis added). The specification discloses the first plurality of dummy dies are placed on the wafer prior to placing the second plurality of active dies. Figures 1-4 disclose the dummy dies 4D formed on the wafer 2 prior to forming the second active dies 56A. Paragraph [0041] discloses the position of the dummy dies 4D is determined based on the positions of the first active dies 4A. Therefore, there is no support for determining the position of the first dummy dies based on the yet to be placed second active dies.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 4-17, 21, and 22 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding claim 1, the prior art of record, either singularly or in combination, does not disclose or suggestion the combination of limitations including “bonding one of the plurality of dummy dies to the dummy die and to a position offset from the second reference point”.
Regarding claim 13, the prior art of record, either singularly or in combination, does not disclose or suggestion the combination of limitations including “bonding a second plurality of dummy dies to the first plurality of dummy dies, wherein the plurality of dummy dies comprises: offsetting from the second reference point to determine a first position; and bonding a first one of the second plurality of dummy dies to the first position”.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MATTHEW C LANDAU whose telephone number is (571)272-1731. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 9:30-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Landau can be reached at 571-272-1731. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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MATTHEW C. LANDAU
Supervisory Patent Examiner
Art Unit 2891
/MATTHEW C LANDAU/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2891
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