Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/331,973

SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jun 09, 2023
Priority
Aug 29, 2022 — RE 10-2022-0108654
Examiner
PHAM, LONG
Art Unit
2897
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
92%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 92% — above average
92%
Career Allowance Rate
1509 granted / 1649 resolved
+23.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+5.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
1679
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
56.9%
+16.9% vs TC avg
§102
23.7%
-16.3% vs TC avg
§112
9.5%
-30.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1649 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 claims 1-6, 9-17, 19, and 23 in the reply filed on 1/5/26 is acknowledged. 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. Claim 23 recites the limitation "the first semiconductor chip" in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-6, 9-17, and 19 are allowed. Claim 23 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. Examiner’s Cited References The cited references generally show the similar or related structure having stacked lower and upper chips having an array of power column connectors, ground column connectors, and dummy column connectors where a ground or dummy connector is between a power connector in a column direction and a ground or dummy connector is between a power connector in a row direction as presently claimed by applicant. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LONG PHAM whose telephone number is (571)272-1714. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Friday. 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, Jacob Choi can be reached at 469-295-9060. 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. LONG . PHAM Examiner Art Unit 2823 /LONG PHAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2897
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 09, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12635524
ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
3y 8m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12635359
ARRAY SUBSTRATE AND DISPLAY PANEL
3y 5m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12628692
SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE, SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING STRUCTURE, AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME
3y 5m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12628694
INTEGRATED BARE DIE PACKAGE, AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS
3y 4m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12622317
PACKAGING ARCHITECTURE FOR MODULAR DIE INTEROPERABILITY
4y 4m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
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
92%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+5.5%)
2y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1649 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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