Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/311,289

SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE

Non-Final OA §102§Other
Filed
May 03, 2023
Examiner
MENZ, LAURA MARY
Art Unit
2813
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 6m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allow Rate
805 granted / 922 resolved
+19.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+8.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
951
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
§103
27.0%
-13.0% vs TC avg
§102
51.0%
+11.0% vs TC avg
§112
7.9%
-32.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 922 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §Other
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 without traverse of Species 5 in the reply filed on 10/7/25 is acknowledged. 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) 1, 11-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Park et al (US 2020/0098719). 1. A semiconductor package comprising: a first semiconductor chip (Fig.1 (100A) and [0021]/Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]) comprising through silicon vias (TSVs) (Fig.1 (130) and [0029]/Fig.5 (not shown but described [0069]), wherein respective upper conductive pads (Fig.1 (144) and [0029]/Fig.5 (330) and [0069]) are electrically connected to the TSVs (Fig.1 (130) and [0029]/Fig.5 (not shown but described [0069]) and are on an upper surface of the first semiconductor chip (Fig.1 (100A) and[ 0021]/Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]); a second semiconductor chip (Fig.1(100B) and [0021]/Fig.5 (100A) and [0071]) on the first semiconductor chip (Fig.1 (100A) and [0021]/Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]), wherein lower conductive pads (Fig.1/5 (142) and [0029]) are on a lower surface of the second semiconductor chip (Fig.1(100B) and [0021]/Fig.5 (100A) and [0071]); conductive bumps (Fig.1/5 (170A/B) and [0029]) between the upper conductive pads (Fig.1 (144) and [0029]/Fig.5 (330) and [0069]) and the lower conductive pads (Fig.1/5 (142) and [0029]); an interlayer adhesive layer (Fig.1 (150) and [0040/0047])/Fig.5(160) and [0075- teaching that 160 and 150 may be the same material]) between the first semiconductor chip (Fig.1 (100A) and [0021]/Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]) and the second semiconductor chip (Fig.1(100B) and [0021]/Fig.5 (100A) and [0071]); and an encapsulant (Fig.1/5 (180) and [0041]) on a side surface of the second semiconductor chip (Fig.1(100B) and [0021]/Fig.5 (100A) and [0071], wherein, an interlayer space (Fig.1/5 (CS/CS1) and [0051]) is between the first semiconductor chip (Fig.1 (100A) and [0021]/Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]) and the second semiconductor chip (Fig.1(100B) and [0021]/Fig.5 (100A) and [0071]) and overlaps the first semiconductor chip (Fig.1 (100A) and [0021]/Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]) and the second semiconductor chip (Fig.1(100B) and [0021]/Fig.5 (100A) and [0071]) in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces of both the first semiconductor chip (Fig.1 (100A) and [0021]/Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]) and the second semiconductor chip (Fig.1(100B) and [0021]/Fig.5 (100A) and [0071]), and wherein the encapsulant (Fig.1/5 (180) and [0041]) extends into the interlayer space (Fig.1/5 (CS/CS1) and [0051]). 11. The semiconductor package of claim 1, wherein the encapsulant (Fig.1/5 (180) and [0041]) extends into the interlayer space (Fig.1/5 (CS/CS1) and [0051]) and is in contact with a portion of the upper surface of the first semiconductor chip (Fig.1 (100A) and [0021]/Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]) and in contact with a portion of the lower surface of the second semiconductor chip (Fig.1(100B) and [0021]/Fig.5 (100A) and [0071]). 12. The semiconductor package of claim 1, wherein the interlayer adhesive layer comprises a non-conductive film (Fig.1 (150) and [0040/0047])/Fig.5(160) and [0075- teaching that 160 and 150 may be the same material]). 13. The semiconductor package of claim 1, wherein the encapsulant comprises epoxy molding compound (EMC) (Fig.1/5 (180) and [0041]). 14. The semiconductor package of claim 1, further comprising: an upper semiconductor chip (Fig.5 (100B) and [0072]) on the second semiconductor chip (Fig.5 (100A) and [0071]) and having a thickness greater than a thickness of the first semiconductor chip Fig.5 (300) and [0068-0069/0061]) or a thickness of the second semiconductor chip (See Fig.5). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Park et al (US 10930613); Kim et al (US 11164805); Lu et al (US 9184153) teach similar structures. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAURA M MENZ whose telephone number is (571)272-1697. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:30. 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, Steven Gauthier can be reached at 571-270-0373. 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. /LAURA M MENZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2813 1/4/26
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 03, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §Other
Mar 25, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Mar 25, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

Precedent Cases

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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
87%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+8.2%)
2y 6m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 922 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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