Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 04, 2026
Application No. 18/357,426

MULTI-GATE RADIO FREQUENCY SWITCHES

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 24, 2023
Priority
Jul 26, 2022 — provisional 63/369,435 +1 more
Examiner
MALEK, MALIHEH
Art Unit
2813
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Skyworks Solutions Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
82%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
464 granted / 588 resolved
+10.9% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+3.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
618
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
57.8%
+17.8% vs TC avg
§102
26.5%
-13.5% vs TC avg
§112
9.0%
-31.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 588 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 . DETAILED ACTION Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhu et al. (Pub. No. US 2015/0041917 A1). Regarding claims 1 and 11, Zhu discloses a mobile device comprising: an antenna; and a front-end system coupled to the antenna and including a radio frequency switch (Zhu: paragraphs [0018], [0120]-[0121], [0147]-[0148]), the radio frequency switch including a first transistor gate structure 300a-“G” that includes a first gate connection “G” extending in parallel with a first edge of an active region 302 and a first transistor gate 304a extending from the first gate connection over the first edge of the active region (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0062]-[0063]), a second transistor gate structure 300b-“G” that includes a second gate connection “G” extending in parallel with a second edge of the active region 302 opposite the first edge and a second transistor gate 304b extending from the second gate connection over the second edge of the active region 302 (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0063]-[0064]), a radio frequency switch input “IN/IN1” that includes a first source/drain connection extending in parallel to the first transistor gate and contacting the active region, and a radio frequency switch output “OUT/OUT2” that includes a second source/drain connection extending in parallel to the second transistor gate and contacting the active region, the first transistor gate and the second transistor gate positioned between the first source/drain connection and the second source/drain connection (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0063]-[0065]). Regarding claims 2 and 15, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency switch input connection does not reach the second edge of the active region, and the radio frequency switch output connection does not reach the first edge of the active region (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0063]-[0065]). Regarding claims 3 and 16, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 1 wherein the first gate connection, the first transistor gate, the second gate connection, and the second transistor gate are formed of polysilicon (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0125]-[0127]). Regarding claims 4 and 17, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 1 wherein the active region is rectangular (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0063]-[0065]). Regarding claims 5 and 18, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 1 wherein the active region includes a first rectangular region 302a and a second rectangular region 302b, the first rectangular region abutting but offset from the second rectangular region (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0062]-[0064]; Zhu shows different FETs with different number of fingers or varying gate widths adjacent to each other. Therefore, Zhu inherently discloses at least two active regions adjacent to each other wherein one of them is offset from the second one.). Regarding claims 6 and 19, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 4 wherein the first transistor gate extends over the first rectangular region, and the second transistor gate extends over the second rectangular region (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0063]-[0065]). Regarding claims 7 and 20, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 1 further comprising an internal drain/source bias region 150b extending in parallel to the second edge of the active region, the internal drain/source bias region contacting the active region between the first transistor gate 150a and the second transistor gate 150a (Zhu: Figs. 3-7, 22 and paragraphs [0063]-[0065]; Fig. 3 shows a horizontal line that connects D1 to another D1 that is parallel to the second edge of the active region 302, contacting the active region between the first gate 300a-G and the second gate 300b-G. In addition, Fig. 22 shows the S/D coupling 150b contacting the active region between the first gate bias 150a and the second gate bias 150a. The last line of the current claim is different from the last line of claims 6 and 17 of the copending application 18/357469.). Regarding claim 8, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 1 wherein the active region is formed in a semiconductor, the radio frequency switch further including a body contact region that contacts the semiconductor adjacent to the first edge of the active region (Zhu: Figs. 3-7, 21-22 and paragraphs [0109]-[0113]). Regarding claim 9, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 7 wherein the body contact region includes a plurality of body contacts bridged by metal (Zhu: Figs. 21-22 and paragraphs [0109]-[0113]). Regarding claim 10, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 8 wherein a body contact is present only on one side of the active region (Zhu: Figs. 21-22 and paragraphs [0109]-[0113]). Regarding claim 12, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 10 wherein the front-end system further includes a power amplifier having an output connected to the radio frequency switch input (Zhu: Fig. 28 and paragraphs [0018], [0145]). Regarding claim 13, Zhu discloses the radio frequency switch of claim 10 wherein the front-end system further includes a low noise amplifier having an input connected to the radio frequency switch output (Zhu: Fig. 28 and paragraphs [0018], [0147]). Regarding claim 14, Zhu discloses a packaged module comprising: a package substrate; and a semiconductor die attached to the package substrate and including a radio frequency switch formed thereon (Zhu: Figs. 26A-26B and paragraphs [0137]-[0142]), the radio frequency switch including a first transistor gate structure 300a-“G” that includes a first gate connection “G” extending in parallel with a first edge of an active region 302 and a first transistor gate 304a extending from the first gate connection over the first edge of the active region (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0062]-[0063]), a second transistor gate structure 300b-“G” that includes a second gate connection “G” extending in parallel with a second edge of the active region 302 opposite the first edge and a second transistor gate 304b extending from the second gate connection over the second edge of the active region 302 (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0063]-[0064]), a radio frequency switch input “IN/IN1” that includes a first source/drain connection extending in parallel to the first transistor gate and contacting the active region, and a radio frequency switch output “OUT/OUT2” that includes a second source/drain connection extending in parallel to the second transistor gate and contacting the active region, the first transistor gate and the second transistor gate positioned between the first source/drain connection and the second source/drain connection (Zhu: Figs. 3-7 and paragraphs [0063]-[0065]). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MALIHEH MALEK whose telephone number is (571)270-1874. The examiner can normally be reached M/T/W/R/F, 8:30-5. 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 B Gauthier can be reached on (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. February 5, 2026 /MALIHEH MALEK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2813
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 24, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12615799
SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE WITH INCREASED CHANNEL LENGTH AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME
3y 2m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12615805
DISPLAY PANEL WITH IMPROVED MOBILITY OF THE THIN FILM TRANSISTOR
3y 0m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12615829
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
2y 8m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12610605
IC STRUCTURE WITH GATE ELECTRODE FULLY WITHIN V-SHAPED CAVITY
3y 4m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
Patent 12598965
3D NAND MEMORY DEVICE WITH ISOLATION TRENCHES AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF
3y 9m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
79%
Grant Probability
82%
With Interview (+3.5%)
2y 10m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 588 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month