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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because figure 7A now contains duplicate reference numbers 300, one underlined at the top of figure 7A and one with a lead line extending therefrom. 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.
The applicant’s arguments with respect to the drawing objections regarding the signal line are persuasive, therefore, the examiner has withdrawn this drawing objection.
The drawing objections regarding the plurality of second conductive bumps and the third conductive bump are withdrawn in view of the applicant’s amendments to the claims.
Specification
The amendments to the specification in the response filed on March 17, 2026 are accepted by the examiner.
Claim Objections
The objection to claim 14 has been rendered moot by the applicant’s cancellation of claim 14.
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 and 3-13 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “ wherein the second semiconductor die stack structure comprises a first die stack structure located on the first semiconductor die and a second die stack structure located on the first die stack structure,” on page 5 lines 8-10 and the limitation “ the second semiconductor die stack structure comprises a plurality of second semiconductor dies stacked in sequence along a first direction,” on page 5 lines 10-12. These limitations render the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the plurality of second semiconductor dies refers to semiconductor dies in the first die stack structure and the second die stack structure or whether the plurality of second semiconductor dies refers to additional semiconductor dies. The examiner notes the reading independent claim 1 together with claim 4 suggests the plurality of second semiconductor dies refers to semiconductor dies in the first die stack structure and the second die stack structure. Thus, for examination purposes, the plurality of second semiconductor dies will be interpreted as referring to semiconductor dies in the first die stack structure and the second die stack structure.
Claims 3-13 are also rejected for containing the same limitations because claims 3-13 depend from independent claim 1.
The examiner acknowledges that the applicant agrees with the examiner’s interpretation of these limitations on page 11 lines 1-3 of the response filed March 17, 2026. However, the examiner notes that agreeing with the examiner’s interpretation of these limitations does not correct the issues raised in the above stated rejection.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “A semiconductor package structure, comprising” on page 5 line 5 and the limitation “wherein, the semiconductor package structure further comprises,” on page 5 line 23. These limitations render claim 1 indefinite because it is unclear what structure of the semiconductor package structure is being defined through the use of two introductory phrases. For examination purposes, claim 1 will be interpretated as having the introductory phrase A semiconductor package structure, comprising.
Claims 3-13 are also rejected for containing the same limitations because claims 3-13 depend from independent claim 1.
The applicant’s arguments with respect to rejection of claim 11 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, are persuasive, therefore, the examiner has withdrawn this rejection.
The rejection of claims 14-15 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, have been rendered moot by the applicant’s cancellation of claims 14-15.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 3-13 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
14. Independent claim 1 has been amended to incorporate the allowable subject matter of dependent claim 2, and thus, independent claim 1 is allowable for the reasons stated in the Office action of December 23, 2025. Claims 3-13 depend from independent claim 1, and thus, claims 3-13 are also allowable because claims 3-13 include the subject matter of independent claim 1.
Conclusion
******* Note – no prior art has been applied as the amendments in combination, with the previous limitations, overcome the prior art. As discussed above, the issues raised in rejection of claims 1 and 3-13 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, in Office action of December 23, 2025 have not been corrected.
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 BRETT SQUIRES whose telephone number is (571)272-8214. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dale Page can be reached at 571-270-7877. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CALEEN O SULLIVAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2899
/B.S./Examiner, Art Unit 2899
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