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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I, Species II in the reply filed on 11/16/2024 & 2/26/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that examining both groups (method and device) and/or species would not present a search burden. This is not found persuasive because this proposed process shows different inventions/species that would require a diversity field of search since their different classifications have already established. It would require undue burdensome search to examine all invention/species.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 12-26 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention/species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 11/16/2024 & 2/26/2026.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the first element, a dielectric layer, at least one pad; the first element comprising at least one recess at outer edges of opposite sides of the first element; the second element; a second element comprising a second direct bonding surface direct hybrid bonded to the first direct bonding surface of the first element; the second element overhanging the at least one recess such that the at least one recess is a non-bonded area of the first element and the at least one recess has a depth greater than a thickness of the pad (Re claim 2); metal features (Re claim 3); the second element is larger than the first element, such that outer surfaces of the second element are outside outer surfaces of the first element (Re claim 9); the second direct bonding surface is coplanar with a surface of the second element that overhangs the at least one recess (Re claim 10); must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 2-5 and 8-11 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.
Re claim 2, the phrase “a first element with a dielectric layer comprising a first direct bonding surface and at least one pad at the direct bonding surface for hybrid bonding” is unclear and indefinite (which element comprising a first direct bonding surface? e.g., the first element or the dielectric layer comprising a first direct bonding surface? it appears that the “comprising” phrase applied to the dielectric layer; however, line 7 of the instant claim indicated that it applied to the first element, i.e., regarding the phrase “the first direct bonding surface of the first element” Furthermore, where is the at least one pad located since the phrase “the direct bonding surface” lacks antecedent basis).
Re claim 2, the phrase “a second element comprising a second direct bonding surface direct hybrid bonded to the first direct bonding surface of the first element” is unclear and indefinite since the phrase “the first direct bonding surface of the first element” lacks antecedent basis.
Re claim 3, the phrase “corresponding metal features of the first and second element” lacks antecedent basis.
Re claim 8, the phrase “the dielectric bonding surface” lacks antecedent basis.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JACK CHEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1689. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.
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, Yara J. Green can be reached at (571)270-3035. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JACK S CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2893
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