Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/147,335

NAND AGING PROTECTION SCHEME

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Dec 28, 2022
Examiner
CRAWFORD, JASON
Art Unit
2844
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Intel Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
921 granted / 1084 resolved
+17.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 10m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
1111
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
58.3%
+18.3% vs TC avg
§102
32.1%
-7.9% vs TC avg
§112
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1084 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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)(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 1-3, 7 and 9-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Narasimhan et al. (US 2023/0038670). In regards to claim 1, Narasimhan discloses of a memory die (for example see Paragraphs 0036, 0146-0149, 0156-0183) comprising: one or more substrates; and a logic coupled to the one or more substrates, where the logic is implemented at least partly in one or more of configurable or fixed-functionality hardware, the logic to: determine a completion of a burst cycle operation; and alternate between a first park status applied to even node devices and a second park status applied to odd node devices in response to the determined completion of the burst cycle operation (for example see Figs 1A-E, 3A-B, 18 and Paragraphs 0006, 0038-0045, 0056-0061, 0187-0193). In regards to claim 2, Narasimhan discloses of the memory die of claim 1, wherein the logic is further to: select between an activated age protection mode and a disabled age protection mode (for example see selections in Figs 1A-E, 3A-B, 18 and Paragraphs 0006, 0038-0045, 0056-0061, 0187-0193). In regards to claim 3, Narasimhan discloses of the memory die of claim 2, wherein the activated age protection mode is a default mode (for example see Paragraphs 0006, 0038, 0045, 0187-0193). In regards to claim 7, Narasimhan discloses of the memory die of claim 1, wherein the even and odd node devices are PMOS devices (for example see Figs 1A-B, D). In regards to claim 9, Narasimhan discloses of a system comprising: a processor (see Paragraph 0146, 0160, 165-0166); and a memory architecture (for example see Paragraphs 0036, 0146-0149, 0156-0183) communicatively coupled to the processor (for example see Paragraphs 0036, 0146-0149, 0156-0183), the memory architecture including logic coupled to one more substrates, wherein the logic is to: monitor an internal reference clock (for example see Paragraphs 0036-0045, 0051-0059); and alternate between a first park status applied to even node devices and a second park status applied to odd node devices in response to the monitored internal reference clock (for example see Figs 1A-E, 3A-B, 18 and Paragraphs 0006, 0038-0045, 0056-0061, 0187-0193). In regards to claim 10, Narasimhan discloses of the system of claim 9, wherein the logic is further to: select between an activated age protection mode and a disabled age protection mode (for example see selections in Figs 1A-E, 3A-B and Paragraphs 0039-0045, 0056-0061). In regards to claim 11, Narasimhan discloses of the system of claim 10, wherein the activated age protection mode is a default mode (for example see Paragraphs 0006, 0038, 0045, 0187-0193). In regards to claim 12, Narasimhan discloses of the system of claim 9, wherein the logic is further to: detect when entering an active idle state, wherein the detected entering of the active idle state is based on detection of a burst signal end, and wherein the alternation between the first park status applied to even node devices and the second park status applied to odd node devices is done in response to the detected entering of the active idle state (for example see Paragraphs 0038-0045, 0056-0061, 0187-0193). In regards to claim 13, Narasimhan discloses of the system of claim 12, wherein the logic is further to: detect when leaving the active idle state, wherein the detected leaving of the active idle state is based on detection of a burst signal start; and end the alternation between the first park status and the park status in response to the detected leaving of the active idle state (for example see Paragraphs 0038-0045, 0056-0061, 0187-0193). In regards to claim 14, Narasimhan discloses of the system of claim 9, wherein the monitored internal reference clock is to supply an oscillating signal (for example see Paragraphs 0036-0045, 0051-0059). In regards to claim 15, Narasimhan discloses of a method comprising: determining a completion of a burst cycle operation; and alternating between a first park status applied to even node devices and a second park status applied to odd node devices in response to the determined completion of the burst cycle operation (for example see Figs 1A-E, 3A-B, 18 and Paragraphs 0006, 0038-0045, 0056-0061, 0187-0193). In regards to claim 16, Narasimhan discloses of the method of claim 15, further comprising: selecting between an activated age protection mode and a disabled age protection mode (for example see selections in Figs 1A-E, 3A-B and Paragraphs 0039-0045, 0056-0061). In regards to claim 17, Narasimhan discloses of the method of claim 16, wherein the activated age protection mode is a default mode (for example see Paragraphs 0006, 0038, 0045, 0187-0193). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Narasimhan et al. (US 2023/0038670) in view of Rayaprolu et al. (US 2022/0155956). In regards to claim 8, Narasimhan discloses of the memory die of claim 1 as found within the explanation above. However, Narasimhan does not explicitly disclose of wherein the memory die comprises 3D NAND. Rayaprolu discloses of a memory die (130) comprising:: determining cycles of operation; and alternate between statuses in response to the cycles of operation (for example see Figs 9-10, 11A-D, 12A-D, 13, 14A-B); wherein the memory die comprises a 3D NAND (see Paragraphs 0055, 0057). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to have the memory die comprising a 3D NAND as taught by Rayaprolu as a widely utilized and recognized non-volatile memory technology within the art to achieve the desired operational outcome. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 4-6 and 18-20 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. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: In regards to claim 4, the prior art does not explicitly disclose of the memory die of claim 1, wherein the logic is further to: receive a burst signal; determine whether the burst signal indicates a clock tree path request or a data path request in response to the burst signal; determine whether the data path request indicates an input write path request or an output read path request in response to the determination that the burst signal indicates the data path request; and perform a burst cycle operation in response to the burst signal and based on the determination of whether the clock tree path request, the input write path request, or the output read path request is indicated by the burst signal, nor would it have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to do so. Claim 5 is also objected to as being dependent on claim 4. In regards to claim 6, the prior art does not explicitly disclose of the memory die of claim 1, wherein the operations to determine the completion of the burst cycle operation and to alternate between the first and second park status are performed by a clock divider, nor would it have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to do so. In regards to claim 18, the prior art does not explicitly disclose of the method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving a burst signal; determining whether the burst signal indicates a clock tree path request or a data path request in response to the burst signal; determining whether the data path request indicates an input write path request or an output read path request in response to the determination that the burst signal indicates the data path request; and performing a burst cycle operation in response to the burst signal and based on the determination of whether the clock tree path request, the input write path request, or the output read path request is indicated by the burst signal, nor would it have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to do so. Claim 19 is also objected to as being dependent on claim 18. In regards to claim 20, the prior art does not explicitly disclose of the method of claim 15, wherein the operations to determine the completion of the burst cycle operation and to alternate between the first and second park status are performed by a clock divider, nor would it have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to do so. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jason M Crawford whose telephone number is (571)272-6004. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 6:00am-3:00pm. 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, Alexander Taningco can be reached at 571-272-8048. 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. /JASON M CRAWFORD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2844
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 28, 2022
Application Filed
Mar 13, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Jul 08, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jul 08, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
85%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+8.9%)
1y 10m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1084 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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