DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment/Argument
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks, filed 07/08/2026, with respect to the objections to claims 5 and 10 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The objections to claims 5 and 10 have been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks, filed 07/08/2026, with respect to the rejection of claims 12 and 14 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 12 and 14 has been withdrawn.
Applicant's arguments filed 07/08/2026 with respect to the rejection of claim 21 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The amendment filed on 07/08/2026 does not address the limitation claiming opposing sides of the first non-active die being in contact with the encapsulant material, when the drawings show said opposing sides only being in contact with the underfill material.
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks, filed 07/08/2026, with respect to the rejection of claims 1-2, 5-8 and 27-29 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 1-2, 5-8 and 27-29 has been withdrawn.
Applicant's arguments filed 07/08/2026 with respect to the rejection of claims 9-10, 12-13 and 21-26 under 35 U.S.C. 103 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Lin is not relied upon to teach the limitation “a plurality of non-active IC dies, attached to the interposer”, because said limitation is already taught by Shi. In the interest of compact prosecution, additional reference US-20150093858-A1 is cited to show an embodiment similar to the embodiment taught by Lin where different sized dummy dies are disposed on a single substrate.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 21 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 21 is rejected for claiming “wherein, in a side view of the multi-die package, opposing sides of the first non-active die are in contact with the encapsulant material” when Figure 2B clearly depicts first non-active die 210a touching only the underfill material 214a and not encapsulant 214b. Correction is required for compliance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 9-10, 12-13 and 30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Chen et al. (US-20190131289-A1 – hereinafter Chen).
Regarding claim 9, Jee teaches a multi-die package (Fig.1 10; ¶0031), comprising:
a plurality of active integrated circuit (IC) dies (Fig.1 200 and 300; ¶0031), attached to an interposer (Fig.1 420; ¶0031), comprising a first active IC die (300), a second active IC die (Fig.1 200 top right) adjacent to the first active IC die (300), and a third active IC die (Fig.1 200 bottom right) adjacent to the first active IC die (300) and below the second active IC die (200 top right); and
a non-active die (Fig.1 100; ¶0031), attached to the interposer (420) and positioned between the second active IC (200 top right) and the third active IC die (200 bottom right).
Jee does not teach wherein the non-active die is a plurality of non-active dies, comprising:
a first non-active die adjacent to the first active IC die,
a second non-active die adjacent to the first non-active die,
wherein two or more edges of the first non-active die and the second non-active die are aligned, and wherein a width of the second non-active die is greater relative to a width of the first non-active die, and
a third non-active die adjacent to the second non-active die, wherein the second non-active die is between the first non-active die and the third non-active die.
Shi teaches a multi-die package (Fig.1 124; ¶0027 of Shi) having two non-active dies (Fig.1 top 113 of 124; ¶0027 of Shi) adjacent to an active die (Fig.1 108; ¶0027 of Shi), both non-active dies (top 113 of 124 of Shi) arranged side-by-side with one die positioned closer (right 113 of Shi) to the outer edge of the package (124 of Shi) and two or more edges (top and bottom edges of 113 of Shi) are aligned.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to use two dummy dies (top 113 of Shi) instead of a single die (100 of Jee) to arrive at the claimed invention. A practitioner would be motivated to make this change to increase the surface area of the dummy components, which will increase the surface area available for heat transfer and improve package heat dissipation. Shi also depicts both dummy die configurations to be obvious variants, with Fig.1 depicting wider single dummy dies 113 of Shi on adjacent to the opposite side of active die 108 of Shi. These dummy dies would have a similar layout to 124 of Shi where the single dummy die of Jee (100 of Jee) is effectively split in half, with each resulting dummy die (top 113 of Shi) having the same length and height as the original dummy die (100 of Jee), but shorter width than original dummy die 100 of Jee. This is also demonstrated in Shi as a bottom dummy die labeled 113 is a larger component while the top dummy dies are two smaller components occupying the same footprint, so it is not a conclusive modification.
Jee in view of Shi does not teach wherein a width of the second non-active die is greater relative to a width of the first non-active die, and
a third non-active die adjacent to the second non-active die, wherein the second non-active die is between the first non-active die and the third non-active die.
Lin teaches a multi die package (Fig.1A 20; ¶0009 of Lin (see zoomed in view below)) with a first non-active die (Fig.1A 30B left; ¶0009) and a second non-active die (Fig.1A 30B right; ¶0009), wherein the second non-active die (30B left) is wider than the first non-active die (30B right).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the widths of the individual non-active dies to reduce warpage of the resulting package (¶0016 of Lin) and to optimize that warpage resistance with varying non-active die widths.
Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin does not teach a third non-active die adjacent to the second non-active die, wherein the second non-active die is between the first non-active die and the third non-active die.
Chen teaches a multi die package (Fig.3; ¶0043 of Chen) wherein at least three dummy chips (Fig.3 119c; ¶0043 of Chen) are disposed adjacent to an active chip (Fig.3 19b; ¶0043 of Chen).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, for the modified dummy die of Jee in view of Shi (100 of Jee and 113 of Shi) to include a third dummy die (19b of Chen). Such a change amounts to a duplication of parts and would still be subject to the same constraints taught by Jee and Shi, where the resulting dummy dies would sit in the footprint of the unmodified dummy die 100 of Jee and would be aligned by having the same length and height but with different widths.
Regarding claim 10, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Chen from claim 9 teaches the multi-die package of claim 9, wherein two or more edges of the third non-active die are aligned with the two or more edges of the first non-active die and the second non-active die (the modified dummy die of Jee (100 of Jee) in view of Shi and Chen meets this limitation).
Regarding claim 12, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Chen from claim 9 teaches the multi-die package of claim 9, wherein a width of the third non-active die is greater than the width of the first non-active die. (modifications to the individual widths of each dummy die are obvious to reduce warpage of the resulting package (¶0016 of Lin) and to optimize that warpage resistance with varying non-active die width, see claim 9 rejection).
Regarding claim 13, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Chen from claim 12 teaches the multi-die package of claim 12, wherein the width of the third non-active die is greater relative to the width of the second non-active die (modifications to the individual widths of each dummy die are obvious to reduce warpage of the resulting package (¶0016 of Lin) and to optimize that warpage resistance with varying non-active die width, see claim 9 rejection).
Regarding claim 30, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Chen from claim 9 teaches the multi-die package of claim 9.
The aforementioned combination does not teach wherein a ratio of the width of the second non-active die to the width of the first non-active die is greater than 1:1 and less than or approximately equal to 10:1.
However, it would have been obvious to form the non-active dies within the claimed range, since it has been held by the Federal circuit that, where the only difference between the prior art and the claims was a recitation of relative dimensions of the claimed device and a device having the claimed relative dimensions would not perform differently than the prior art device, the claimed device was not patentably distinct from the prior art device. (In Gardner v. TEC Systems, Inc., 725 F.2d 1338, 220 USPQ 777 (Fed. Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 830, 225 USPQ 232 (1984)).
Claim(s) 21, 23 and 25-26 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Newlin (US-20220351901-A1).
Regarding claim 21, Jee teaches A device package (Fig.1; ¶0031), comprising:
a multi-die package (Fig.1 10; ¶0031), comprising:
an interposer (Fig.1 420; ¶0031) comprising a plurality of redistribution layers (interposers are known to comprise redistribution layers);
a plurality of active integrated circuit (IC) dies (Fig.1 200 and 300; ¶0031) attached to the interposer (420);
a non-active die (Fig.1 100; ¶0031), attached to the interposer (420), comprising:
an underfill material (Fig.2A 410; ¶0032); and
wherein a second side (Fig.1 top or bottom side of 100) of the non-active die (100), adjacent to a first side (Fig.1 outermost side of 100) of the nonactive die (100), is in contact with the underfill material (410).
Jee does not teach wherein the non-active die is a plurality of non-active dies, comprising:
a first non-active die, and a second non-active die, arranged side-by-side with the first non-active die in a row on the interposer, spaced apart from the first non-active die by a first gap, wherein, in a top view of the multi-die package, two or more edges of the first non-active die and of the second non-active die are aligned, and wherein, in the top view of the multi-die package, a width of the second non-active die is greater relative to a width of the first non-active die;
an encapsulant material, wherein, in a side view of the multi-die package, opposing sides of the first non-active die are in contact with the encapsulant material; and
wherein, in the side view of the multi-die package, a first side of the second non-active die is in contact with the encapsulant material and a second side of the second non-active die, adjacent to the first side of the second nonactive die, is in contact with the underfill material.
Shi teaches a multi-die package (Fig.1 124; ¶0027 of Shi) having two non-active dies (Fig.1 top 113 of 124; ¶0027 of Shi) adjacent to an active die (Fig.1 108; ¶0027 of Shi), both non-active dies (top 113 of 124 of Shi) arranged side-by-side with one die positioned closer (right 113 of Shi) to the outer edge of the package (124 of Shi) and two or more edges (top and bottom edges of 113 of Shi) are aligned.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to use two dummy dies (top 113 of Shi) instead of a single die (100 of Jee) to arrive at the claimed invention. A practitioner would be motivated to make this change to increase the surface area of the dummy components, which will increase the surface area available for heat transfer and improve package heat dissipation. Shi also depicts both dummy die configurations to be obvious variants, with Fig.1 depicting wider single dummy dies 113 of Shi on adjacent to the opposite side of active die 108 of Shi. These dummy dies would have a similar layout to 124 of Shi where the single dummy die of Jee (100 of Jee) is effectively split in half, with each resulting dummy die (top 113 of Shi) having the same length and height as the original dummy die (100 of Jee), but shorter width than original dummy die 100 of Jee. This is also demonstrated in Shi as a bottom dummy die labeled 113 is a larger component while the top dummy dies are two smaller components occupying the same footprint, so it is not a conclusive modification.
Jee in view of Shi does not teach wherein, in the top view of the multi-die package, a width of the second non-active die is greater relative to a width of the first non-active die;
an encapsulant material, wherein, in a side view of the multi-die package, opposing sides of the first non-active die are in contact with the encapsulant material; and
wherein, in the side view of the multi-die package, a first side of the second non-active die is in contact with the encapsulant material and a second side of the second non-active die, adjacent to the first side of the second nonactive die, is in contact with the underfill material.
Lin teaches a multi die package (Fig.1A 20; ¶0009 of Lin (see zoomed in view below)) with a first non-active die (Fig.1A 30B left; ¶0009) and a second non-active die (Fig.1A 30B right; ¶0009), wherein the second non-active die (30B left) is wider than the first non-active die (30B right).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the widths of the individual non-active dies to reduce warpage of the resulting package (¶0016 of Lin) and to optimize that warpage resistance with varying non-active die widths.
Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin does not teach an encapsulant material, wherein, in a side view of the multi-die package, opposing sides of the first non-active die are in contact with the encapsulant material; and
wherein, in the side view of the multi-die package, a first side of the second non-active die is in contact with the encapsulant material and a second side of the second non-active die, adjacent to the first side of the second nonactive die, is in contact with the underfill material.
Newlin teaches a chip package (Fig.6; ¶0021 of Newlin) comprising an encapsulant (Fig.6 61; ¶0021 of Newlin) surrounding an active chip.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to add the encapsulant of Newlin (61 of Newlin) to the device taught by Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin to arrive at the claimed invention. A practitioner would have been motivated to make this modification for the benefit of protecting the active dies from the external environment (¶0021 of Newlin).
Regarding claim 23, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Newlin from claim 21 teaches the device package of claim 21, wherein the second non-active die (top 113 left of Shi) is positioned closer to an outer edge of the multi-die package (10 of Jee) relative to the first non-active die (top 113 right of Shi).
The aforementioned combination does not explicitly teach wherein a ratio of the width of the second non-active die to the width of the first nonactive die is included in a range of greater than 1:1 to less than or equal to 10:1.
However, it would have been obvious to form the ratio of the widths within the claimed range, since it has been held by the Federal circuit that, where the only difference between the prior art and the claims was a recitation of relative dimensions of the claimed device and a device having the claimed relative dimensions would not perform differently than the prior art device, the claimed device was not patentably distinct from the prior art device. (In Gardner v. TEC Systems, Inc., 725 F.2d 1338, 220 USPQ 777 (Fed. Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 830, 225 USPQ 232 (1984)).
Regarding claim 25, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Newlin from claim 23 teaches the device package of claim 23, wherein the two or more edges, (top and bottom edges) of the first non-active die (top 113 right of Shi) and the second non-active die (top 113 left of Shi) comprises:
a first edge (top edge), of the first non-active die (top 113 right of Shi) and the second non-active die (top 113 left of Shi), adjacent to a first active IC die (200 top of Jee) of the plurality of active IC dies (200 and 300 of Jee), and a second edge (bottom edge), of the first non-active die (top 113 right of Shi) and the second non-active die (top 113 left of Shi), opposing the first edge (top edge) and adjacent to a second active IC die (200 bottom of Jee) of the plurality of active IC dies (200 and 300 of Jee).
Regarding claim 26, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Newlin from claim 25 teaches the device package of claim 25, wherein the two or more edges of the first non-active die (top 113 right of Shi) further comprises a third edge (right edge), that is orthogonal to the first edge (top edge) of the first non-active die (top 113 right of Shi), and the second edge (bottom edge) of the first non-active die (top 113 right of Shi), wherein the third edge (right edge) is adjacent to a third active IC die (300 of Jee) of the plurality of active IC dies (200 and 300 of Jee).
Claim(s) 22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Newlin, and further in view of Shih et al. (US-20210175188-A1 – hereinafter Shih).
Regarding claim 22, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Newlin from claim 21 teaches the device package of claim 21, wherein the multi-die package (10 of Jee not including 500) is a first multi-die package (10 of Jee not including 500).
The aforementioned combination does teach a PCB board (Fig.1 500; ¶0031).
The aforementioned combination does not teach wherein the device package further comprises:
a second multi-die package, comprising:
another interposer of the second multi-die package, wherein the other interposer of the second multi-die package comprises another plurality of redistribution layers;
another plurality of active IC dies attached to the other interposer of the second multi-die package; and
another plurality of non-active dies attached to the other interposer of the second multi-die package, wherein the other plurality of non-active dies are arranged side by side in a row on the other interposer such that the other plurality of nonactive dies and the other plurality of active IC dies are spaced apart by second gaps; and
at least one of another underfill material or another molding compound in the second gaps.
Shih teaches a layout of two identical pluralities of active and inactive IC dies (Fig.8 of Shih).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have duplicated the first multi-die package (Fig.1 10 of Jee not including 500) to have a second identical multi-die package on the PCB board (500 of Jee). A practitioner would be motivated to make this modification to increase the processing power of the entire device package. This limitation could alternatively be viewed as a duplication of parts (see MPEP 2144.04 VI B).
Claim(s) 24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Newlin, and further in view of Chen.
Regarding claim 24, the aforementioned combination of Jee in view of Shi, and further in view of Lin, and further in view of Newlin from claim 23 teaches the device package of claim 23.
The aforementioned combination does not teach wherein the plurality of non-active dies comprises:
a third non-active die side-by-side with the second non-active die, wherein the third non-active die is positioned closer to the outer edge of the multi-die package relative to the second non-active die, and wherein a ratio of a width of the third non-active die to the width of the first nonactive die is included in a range of greater than 1:1 to less than or equal to 10:1.
Chen teaches a multi die package (Fig.3; ¶0043 of Chen) wherein at least three dummy chips (Fig.3 119c; ¶0043 of Chen) are disposed adjacent to an active chip (Fig.3 19b; ¶0043 of Chen).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, for the modified dummy die of Jee in view of Shi (100 of Jee and 113 of Shi) to include a third dummy die (19b of Chen). Such a change amounts to a duplication of parts and would still be subject to the same constraints taught by Jee and Shi, where the resulting dummy dies would sit in the footprint of the unmodified dummy die 100 of Jee and would be aligned by having the same length and height but with different widths.
The aforementioned combination does not teach wherein a ratio of a width of the third non-active die to the width of the first nonactive die is included in a range of greater than 1:1 to less than or equal to 10:1.
However, it would have been obvious to form the ratio of the widths within the claimed range, since it has been held by the Federal circuit that, where the only difference between the prior art and the claims was a recitation of relative dimensions of the claimed device and a device having the claimed relative dimensions would not perform differently than the prior art device, the claimed device was not patentably distinct from the prior art device. (In Gardner v. TEC Systems, Inc., 725 F.2d 1338, 220 USPQ 777 (Fed. Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 830, 225 USPQ 232 (1984)).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1-2, 5-8, and 27-29 are allowed.
Regarding independent claim 1, the most relevant prior art reference US-20200020647-A1 to Jee et al. teaches most of the limitations of claim 1, but not the limitations of “a length of the first non-active die and the second non-active die are the same, and a width of the second non-active die is greater relative to a width of the first non-active die” as recited. Therefore, claim 1 is deemed patentable over the prior art.
Claims 2, 5-8, and 27-29 are allowed as being dependent on allowed claim 1.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THADDEUS J KOLB whose telephone number is (571)272-0276. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm.
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/T.J.K./ Examiner, Art Unit 2817
/ELISEO RAMOS FELICIANO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2817
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