DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is in response to the Amendment filed on April 8, 2026.
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)(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 1-12, 14-18, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kim et al. (US Pub. 2016/0233196 A1).
In re claims 1 and 10, Kim et al. shows (fig. 2) a semiconductor device comprising: a first signal distribution structure (110) having a first side (at 118) and a second side (at 116) that is opposite the first side of the first signal distribution structure, wherein the first signal distribution structure comprises a dielectric layer (fig. 1H; 111,113, 115) and a conductive layer (fig. 1H; 112,114); a first electronic component (250 left) coupled to the first side of the first signal distribution structure; a second electronic component (250 right) coupled to the first side of the first signal distribution structure; a first encapsulating material (160) on the first side of the first signal distribution structure and around the first electronic component and the second electronic component; a third electronic component (120) coupled to the second side of the first signal distribution structure; conductive pillars, (117), wherein each conductive pillar comprises a first side (at 116) coupled to the second side of the first signal distribution structure and wherein each conductive pillar is positioned laterally around the third electronic component; and a second encapsulating material (130) on the second side of the first signal distribution structure and around the third electronic component and the conductive pillars, wherein the second encapsulating material is around the third electronic component and the conductive pillars; and wherein the second encapsulating material contacts conductive material of at least one of the conductive pillars and does not extend beyond the first side of each respective conductive pillar.
(additionally as recited in claim 10) The second encapsulating material does not cover a lateral side of the first signal distribution structure, wherein the first signal distribution structure comprises a first electrical pathway between the first terminal of the first electronic component and a first conductive pillar of the conductive pillars, and a second electrical pathway between the second terminal of the first electronic component and the third electronic component.
In re claims 2-9, 11,12, 14-18, and 21, Kim et al. shows (fig. 2) discloses the remaining elements of the claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-18 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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 MATTHEW E WARREN whose telephone number is (571)272-1737. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 10am - 6pm.
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/MATTHEW E WARREN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2815
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