Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 18/291,311

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 23, 2024
Priority
Jul 30, 2021 — JP 2021-125616 +1 more
Examiner
SMITH, BRADLEY
Art Unit
2817
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Sony Group Corporation
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
77%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
722 granted / 903 resolved
+12.0% vs TC avg
Minimal -3% lift
Without
With
+-2.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
935
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.6%
-37.4% vs TC avg
§103
43.5%
+3.5% vs TC avg
§102
23.0%
-17.0% vs TC avg
§112
24.5%
-15.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 903 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 2, 4, 8 and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Kandekar et al. (US 10,804,233). Regarding claim 4, Kandekar et al. disclose a package body (100, package assembly) [col. 3 lines 29-30] including a semiconductor chip (102)[col. 3 lines 30-50] and having a plurality of first lands (112 bonding pads) arranged on one surface; and a plurality of solder bumps that are individually bonded to the plurality of lands[ cols. 3-4], respectively, wherein the plurality of solder bumps (116,118) include core solder bumps (118) including cores and coreless solder bumps without cores (116)[col. 4 lines 12-42](fig. 1A) wherein the core solder bumps (118) are arranged in a location superimposed on a contour of the semiconductor chip in plan view (fig. 1c the examiner considers the edge “a countour” of the semiconductor chip ). Regarding claim 2, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps are arranged at sections where stress caused by a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the package body and a mounting substrate are concentrated during a cooling process performed after each of the plurality of solder bumps including the core solder bumps and the coreless solder bumps is melted and individually bonded to each of a plurality of second lands on the mounting substrate (fig. 1A and 1C). Regarding claim 8, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps include the cores (120) and solder layers (122) covering the cores, and the coreless solder bumps are composed of solder [col. 4 lines 27-42]. Regarding claim 9, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps and the coreless solder bumps have an identical external shape (fig. 1A). Claim(s) 5, 19-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Kandekar et al. (US 10,804,233). Regarding claim 5, Kandekar et al. disclose a package body (100, package assembly) [col. 3 lines 29-30] including a semiconductor chip (102)[col. 3 lines 30-50] and having a plurality of first lands (112 bonding pads) arranged on one surface; and a plurality of solder bumps that are individually bonded to the plurality of lands[ cols. 3-4], respectively, wherein the plurality of solder bumps (116,118) include core solder bumps (118) including cores and coreless solder bumps without cores (116)[col. 4 lines 12-42](fig. 1A) the core solder bumps are arranged at a corner of the package body and in a location superimposed on a contour of the semiconductor chip in plan view(fig. 1c)( the examiner considers the edge “a countour” of the semiconductor chip). Regarding claim 19, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps are arranged at sections where stress caused by a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the package body and a mounting substrate are concentrated during a cooling process performed after each of the plurality of solder bumps including the core solder bumps and the coreless solder bumps is melted and individually bonded to each of a plurality of second lands on the mounting substrate (fig. 1A and 1C). Regarding claim 20, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps include the cores (120) and solder layers (122) covering the cores, and the coreless solder bumps are composed of solder [col. 4 lines 27-42]. Regarding claim 21, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps and the coreless solder bumps have an identical external shape (fig. 1A). Claim(s) 11, 13, 17 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Kandekar et al. (US 10,804,233). Regarding claim 13, Kandekar et al. disclose a semiconductor device having a plurality of first lands (112) arranged on one surface of a package body including a semiconductor chip(fig 1a) ;a mounting substrate having a plurality of second lands (121)(fig. 1A) arranged on one surface; and a plurality of solder bumps that are individually interposed between the plurality of first lands and the plurality of second lands (fig. 1B), respectively, and are individually bonded to the plurality of first lands and the plurality of second lands, respectively, wherein the plurality of solder bumps include core (118) solder bumps including cores and coreless solder bumps (116) without cores wherein the core solder bumps (118) are arranged in a location superimposed on a contour of the semiconductor chip in plan view (fig. 1c the examiner considers the edge “a countour” of the semiconductor chip ). Regarding claim 11, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps are arranged at sections where stress caused by a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the package body and a mounting substrate are concentrated during a cooling process performed after each of the plurality of solder bumps including the core solder bumps and the coreless solder bumps is melted and individually bonded to each of a plurality of second lands on the mounting substrate (figs. 1A , 1B and 1C). Regarding claim 17, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps include the cores (120) and solder layers (122) covering the cores, and the coreless solder bumps are composed of solder [col. 4 lines 27-42]. Regarding claim 18, Kandekar et al. disclose the core solder bumps and the coreless solder bumps have an identical external shape (fig. 1A). Claim(s) 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Kandekar et al. (US 10,804,233). Regarding claim 13, Kandekar et al. disclose a semiconductor device having a plurality of first lands (112) arranged on one surface of a package body including a semiconductor chip(fig 1a) ;a mounting substrate having a plurality of second lands (121)(fig. 1A) arranged on one surface; and a plurality of solder bumps that are individually interposed between the plurality of first lands and the plurality of second lands (fig. 1B), respectively, and are individually bonded to the plurality of first lands and the plurality of second lands, respectively, wherein the plurality of solder bumps include core (118) solder bumps including cores and coreless solder bumps (116) without cores wherein the core solder bumps are arranged at a corner of the package body and in a location superimposed on a contour of the semiconductor chip in plan view(fig. 1c)( the examiner considers the edge “a countour” of the semiconductor chip). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 6-7, 15-16 and 22-24 are allowable. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: a package body including a semiconductor chip and having a plurality of first lands arranged on one surface; and a plurality of solder bumps that are individually bonded to the plurality of lands, respectively, wherein the plurality of solder bumps include core solder bumps including cores and coreless solder bumps without cores wherein the package body includes a plurality of the semiconductor chips arranged in a two-dimensional plane, and the core solder bumps are arranged between the semiconductor chips adjacent to each other in plan view (claims 6-7 and 22-24) a semiconductor device having a plurality of first lands arranged on one surface of a package body including a semiconductor chip; a mounting substrate having a plurality of second lands arranged on one surface; and a plurality of solder bumps that are individually interposed between the plurality of first lands and the plurality of second lands, respectively, and are individually bonded to the plurality of first lands and the plurality of second lands, respectively, wherein the plurality of solder bumps include core solder bumps including cores and coreless solder bumps without cores wherein the plurality of solder bumps include core solder bumps including cores and coreless solder bumps without cores wherein the package body includes a plurality of the semiconductor chips arranged in a two-dimensional plane, and wherein the core solder bumps are arranged between the semiconductor chips adjacent to each other in plan view. (claims 15-16). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRADLEY K SMITH whose telephone number is (571)272-1884. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm. 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, Marlon Fletcher can be reached at 571-272-2063. 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. /BRADLEY SMITH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2817
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 23, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jun 10, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 18, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
77%
With Interview (-2.8%)
2y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 903 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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