Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/283,810

METAL ORGANIC CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Sep 24, 2023
Priority
Mar 30, 2021 — RE 10-2021-0040792 +1 more
Examiner
CROWELL, ANNA M
Art Unit
1716
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Tes Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
45%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
76%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 45% of resolved cases
45%
Career Allowance Rate
192 granted / 429 resolved
-20.2% vs TC avg
Strong +31% interview lift
Without
With
+30.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 10m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
469
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
78.8%
+38.8% vs TC avg
§102
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
§112
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 429 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 § 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. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. Claim(s) 1-5 and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cho et al. (CN 110088356A) in view of Chen et al. ( CN 201600026U). Referring to Figure 1 and page 4, Cho et al. disclose a metal organic chemical vapor deposition apparatus comprising: a chamber 10 providing a processing space in which a substrate is processed (Fig. 1, page 4, par. [0003]); a gas supply 30 configured to supply a process gas toward the substrate inside the chamber (Fig. 1, page 4, par. [0003]); a substrate support 20 that is disposed inside the chamber and on which the substrate is accommodated (Fig. 1, page 4, par. [0003]); and a heating coil 24 disposed on a side surface of the substrate support and configured to heat the substrate support (Fig. 1, page 4, par. [0010]). PNG media_image1.png 516 1008 media_image1.png Greyscale Cho et al. is silent on a coil extension connected to the heating coil and constituting a supply path through which RF power and cooling water are supplied to the heating coil; and a coil connector disposed in the chamber to allow the coil extension to pass therethrough and configured to insulate the chamber from the coil extension. Referring to Figures 1-2 and paragraphs [0013]-[0019], Chen et al. teach it is conventionally known in the thermal processing art to provide a coil extension 2 connected to the heating coil and constituting a supply path through which RF power and cooling water are supplied to the heating coil; and a coil connector 3, 4, 6 disposed in the chamber to allow the coil extension to pass therethrough and configured to insulate the chamber from the coil extension as a means to power and cool the heating coil. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have modified the apparatus of Cho et al. to use a coil extension connected to the heating coil and constituting a supply path through which RF power and cooling water are supplied to the heating coil; and a coil connector disposed in the chamber to allow the coil extension to pass therethrough and configured to insulate the chamber from the coil extension as taught by Chen et al. since it is a conventionally known a means to power and cool the heating coil. PNG media_image2.png 700 590 media_image2.png Greyscale With respect to claim 2, the metal organic chemical vapor deposition apparatus of Cho et al. in view of Chen et al. further includes wherein the coil connector includes: a connection flange 6 disposed on a side wall of the chamber and including a first through hole formed therein, through which the coil extension passes; an insulation block 3 disposed on a first surface of the connection flange and including a second through hole formed therein, through which the coil extension passes; and an additional block 4 disposed on a first surface of the insulation block, including a third through hole formed therein, through which the coil extension passes, and including an O- ring sealing the coil extension (Chen et al.-Fig. 1 and pars.[0013]-[0015], With regards to an O-ring, it is conventionally well-known to use an O-ring since it is conventionally used with vacuum chamber components to ensure a vacuum seal). With respect to claim 3, the metal organic chemical vapor deposition apparatus of Cho et al. in view of Chen et al. further comprising an O-ring pressurizer configured to pressurize the O-ring (With regards to an O-ring pressurizer, it is conventionally well-known to use an O-ring pressurizer since it is conventionally used with vacuum chamber components to ensure a vacuum seal). With respect to claim 4, the metal organic chemical vapor deposition apparatus of Cho et al. in view of Chen et al. further comprising an O-ring cap disposed on a first surface of the additional block on which the O- ring pressurizer is mounted (With regards to an O-ring pressurizer, it is conventionally well-known to use an O-ring pressurizer since it is conventionally used with vacuum chamber components to ensure a vacuum seal). With respect to claim 5, the metal organic chemical vapor deposition apparatus of Cho et al. in view of Chen et al. further includes wherein the connection flange 6 further includes a cooling flow passage 2 (Chen et al.-pars.[0014]-[0015]). With respect to claim 7, the metal organic chemical vapor deposition apparatus of Cho et al. in view of Chen et al. further comprising an insulation part 1 disposed through the connection flange 6 and the insulation block 3 and surrounding a portion of the coil extension 2 inside the chamber (Chen et al.-Fig. 1, par.[0016]). Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cho et al. (CN 110088356A) in view of Chen et al. (CN 201600026U) as applied to claims 1-5 and 7 above, and further in view of Lu (CN 209326375U). The teachings of Cho et al. in view of Chen et al. have been discussed above. Cho et al. in view of Chen et al. is silent on wherein an end of the coil extension is disposed outside the chamber; and wherein the metal organic chemical vapor deposition apparatus further includes a connector configured to connect the end of the coil extension with a feedthrough configured to supply RF power and cooling water to the heating coil from an outside of the chamber. Referring to Figures 1-2 and page 3, paragraph 2-page 4, paragraph 2, Lu teaches it is conventionally known in the thermal processing art for an end of the coil extension 3 is disposed outside the chamber; and wherein the apparatus further includes a connector 14, 16, 17 configured to connect the end of the coil extension with a feedthrough configured to supply RF power and cooling water to the heating coil from an outside of the chamber as a connection means that provides a stable connection to the coil extension with good sealing and promotes ease of mounting and dismounting of the connection means. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have modified the apparatus of Cho et al. in view of Chen et al. with wherein an end of the coil extension is disposed outside the chamber; and wherein the metal organic chemical vapor deposition apparatus further includes a connector configured to connect the end of the coil extension with a feedthrough configured to supply RF power and cooling water to the heating coil from an outside of the chamber as taught by Lu since it is a connection means that provides a stable connection to the coil extension with good sealing and promotes ease of mounting and dismounting of the connection means. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Kawarada et al.’168 teach a heating coil disposed on side surface of a substrate support with a coil extension. Fodor et al.’926 teach heating coil with external power supply. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michelle CROWELL whose telephone number is (571)272-1432. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 10:00am-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, Parviz Hassanzadeh can be reached at 571-272-1435. 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. /Michelle CROWELL/Examiner, Art Unit 1716 /SYLVIA MACARTHUR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1716
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 24, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
45%
Grant Probability
76%
With Interview (+30.8%)
3y 10m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 429 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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