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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 2, 4, 7-10, 14, 15 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) or 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chen et al. US 2022/0028800.
Regarding claim 1, Chen teaches a stiffener (e.g., 20f, Figs. 8-10; [50]-[54]; [32], [24]) comprising:
an inner perimeter (e.g., inner perimeter of 20f comprising a tetragonal shape, Fig. 8) comprising a polygonal shape that surrounds at least one dimension of an integrated circuit (e.g., 30, Fig. 8) coupled to a substrate (e.g., 10, Figs. 8-10), the inner perimeter comprising:
sides of the polygonal shape creating a set of boundaries (e.g., sides of the tetragonal shape of the inner perimeter creating a set of boundaries; see the annotated Fig. 8 below); and
at least one recess formed into at least one boundary of the set of boundaries (e.g., recess(es) into at least one boundary discussed above; see the annotated Fig. 8 below); and
an outer perimeter (e.g., outer perimeter of 20f, Fig. 8) that extends further outward from the integrated circuit than the inner perimeter.
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Annotated Fig. 8 of Chen
Regarding claim 2, Chen teaches the stiffener of claim 1, further comprising material (e.g., material of 20f; Fig. 8, [24]) that: extends between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter; and provides structural support to the substrate to impede the substrate or the integrated circuit from warping (e.g., [54]).
Regarding claim 4, Chen teaches the stiffener of claim 1, wherein the set of boundaries comprises at least four linear boundaries that collectively form the inner perimeter (e.g., see the annotated Fig. 8 above).
Regarding claim 7, Chen teaches the stiffener of claim 1, wherein: the at least one recess comprises a certain number of recesses (e.g., two recesses; see the annotated Fig. 8 above); and the set of boundaries comprises a different number of linear boundaries (e.g., four linear boundaries; see the annotated Fig. 8 above) that is equivalent to double the certain number of recesses.
Regarding claim 8, Chen teaches the stiffener of claim 1, wherein the set of boundaries are arranged in a symmetrical configuration (e.g., see the annotated Fig. 8 above).
Regarding claim 9, Chen teaches the stiffener of claim 1, wherein the at least one recess comprises: a first recess (e.g., a recess; see the annotated Fig. 8 above) formed into a first linear boundary (e.g., a linear boundary including the recess; see the annotated Fig. 8 above) included in the set of boundaries; and a second recess (e.g., another recess; see the annotated Fig. 8 above) formed into a second linear boundary (e.g., another linear boundary including the another recess; see the annotated Fig. 8 above) that is included in the set of boundaries and positioned opposite the first linear boundary.
Regarding claim 10, Chen teaches the stiffener of claim 9, wherein the first recess and the second recess are offset from one another relative to a symmetry axis that bisects the inner perimeter (e.g., see the annotated Fig. 8 above).
Regarding claim 14, Chen teaches an apparatus (e.g., 1e, Figs. 8-10; [50]-[54]; [32], [24]) comprising:
a substrate (e.g., 10, Figs. 8-10);
an integrated circuit (e.g., 30, Fig. 8) coupled to the substrate; and
a stiffener (e.g., 20f, Figs. 8-10) that surrounds at least one dimension of the integrated circuit, the stiffener comprising:
an inner perimeter (e.g., inner perimeter of 20f comprising a tetragonal shape, Fig. 8) comprising a polygonal shape that includes:
sides of the polygonal shape creating a set of boundaries (e.g., sides of the tetragonal shape of the inner perimeter creating a set of boundaries; see the annotated Fig. 8 above); and
at least one recess formed into at least one boundary of the set of boundaries (e.g., recess(es) into at least one boundary discussed above; see the annotated Fig. 8 above); and
an outer perimeter (e.g., outer perimeter of 20f, Fig. 8) that extends further outward from the integrated circuit than the inner perimeter.
Regarding claim 15, Chen teaches the apparatus of claim 14, wherein the stiffener further comprises material (e.g., material of 20f; Fig. 8, [24]) that: extends between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter; and provides structural support to the substrate to impede the substrate or the integrated circuit from warping (e.g., [54]).
Regarding claim 17, Chen teaches the apparatus of claim 14, wherein the set of boundaries comprises at least four linear boundaries that collectively form the inner perimeter (e.g., see the annotated Fig. 8 above).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 5, 6 and 11-13 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 16, 18 and 19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on September 10, 2025 have been fully considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection as stated above.
Applicant appears to argue that Chen does not disclose the recesses formed into the boundary (see page 7 of the Applicant's response of September 10, 2025).
However, as stated above in the main body of the rejection and reiterated as follows, Chen teaches at least one recess formed into at least one boundary (e.g., recess(es) into at least one boundary (created by the sides of the tetragonal shape of the inner perimeter); see the annotated Fig. 8 above).
Conclusion
Applicant’s amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a) . 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 extension fee 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.
If applicant should desire to file an amendment, entry of a proposed amendment after final rejection cannot be made as a matter of right unless it merely cancels claims or complies with a formal requirement made earlier. Amendments touching the merits of the application which otherwise might not be proper may be admitted upon a showing a good and sufficient reasons why they are necessary and why they were not presented earlier.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Bo Bin Jang whose telephone number is (571) 270-0271. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Kimberly Rizkallah can be reached at (571) 272-2402. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BO B JANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2818 November 29, 2025