Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/050,030

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, MANUFACTURING METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Oct 26, 2022
Examiner
AU, BAC H
Art Unit
2898
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 6m
To Grant
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allow Rate
660 granted / 817 resolved
+12.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
848
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
48.8%
+8.8% vs TC avg
§102
29.6%
-10.4% vs TC avg
§112
11.8%
-28.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 817 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 Applicant’s amendment dated February 10, 2026, in which claims 1, 12, and 15-19 were amended, and claim 11 was cancelled, has been entered. 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. Claims 1-10 and 12-20 are 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. Claims 1, 12, and 19 recites the limitation "the isolation area" in lines 7, respectively, and “the first material” in line 15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Regarding claim 1, the limitations “a first metal routing” in line 11, “a second metal routing” in line 12, and “an isolation area” in line 14 are indefinite as it is not known whether these elements are the same as, respectively, the “first metal routing” in line 4, the “second metal routing” in lines 7-8, and “the isolation area” in line 8 previously cited or different. The limitation “material” in line 13 is by itself and it is not understood what it means. Finally, the limitation “the redistribution layer” in line 15 is indefinite as it is not understood if it refers to the “first” or the “second” redistribution layer cited above. Regarding claim 12, the limitations “a redistribution layer” in line 9, “an isolation area” in line 9, “a first isolation area” in line 12, “a second isolation area” in line 16 are indefinite as it is not known whether these elements are the same as, respectively, the “first redistribution layer” in line 4, the “second redistribution layer” in line 6, “the isolation area” in line 7, “a first isolation area” in line 7, and “a second isolation area” in line 8 previously cited or different. Finally, the limitation “the second material” in line 20 lacks antecedent basis. Regarding claim 19, the limitations “a first metal routing” in line 11, “a second metal routing” in line 12, and “an isolation area” in line 17 are indefinite as it is not known whether these elements are the same as, respectively, the “first metal routing” in line 5, the “second metal routing” in lines 6-7, and “the isolation area” in line 7 previously cited or different. The limitation “the redistribution layer” in line 17 is indefinite as it is not understood if it refers to the “first” or the “second” redistribution layer cited above. Finally, the limitation “comprises a first material” in line 17 is indefinite as it is not understood whether the “first material” is the material of the “first” or the “second” redistribution layer cited above, or whether the “first material” is the material of the metal routing or the dielectric layer or another element of the redistribution layer. Regarding claims 2-10, 13-18, and 20, the claims are rejected due to their dependency. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claim(s) have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection. Overall, Applicant’s arguments are not persuasive. The claims stand rejected and the Action is made Final. 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 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 BAC H AU whose telephone number is (571)272-8795. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00AM-6:00PM. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Leonard Chang can be reached at 571-270-3691. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /BAC H AU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2898
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 26, 2022
Application Filed
Aug 23, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Nov 26, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 26, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 10, 2026
Response Filed
Feb 21, 2026
Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+10.8%)
2y 6m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 817 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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