DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to an amendment filed 4/7/26.
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 .
Drawings
The replacement drawing was received on 4/7/26. This drawing is acceptable to the examiner.
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 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 6 recites the “at least one of the first vertically stacked channel region and the second vertically stacked channel region.” There is a grammatical incongruity between the phrase “at least one of” and the conjunction “and”. As written, it is unclear if the at least one of comprises at least one of the first vertically stacked channel region(s) AND at least one of the second vertically stacked channel region(s). Alternatively, the claim could be interpreted as “at least one of” comprises one or more of the group of the first vertically stacked channel region(s) and the second vertically stacked channel region(s) (i.e., the “at least one of” comprises the first vertically stacked channel region(s) OR the second vertically stacked channel region(s)). Because both interpretations have differing metes and bounds, the claim is rendered indefinite. For the purposes of examination, the examiner interprets the latter interpretation (i.e., the “at least one of” is interpreted as “one or more of the group of...”). However, correction is requested.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 7-9, 11-13, 15-18, and 21-22 are allowed.
Claim 1 contains allowable subject matter because of the limitation of at least one gate structure in electrical communication with the first vertically stacked channel region regions and the second vertically stacked channel region; and at least one two-component gate cut structure present adjacent to the gate structure, wherein a first component of the two-component gate cut structure in positioned adjacent to a first portion of the at least one gate structure, and a second component of the two component two- component gate cut structure is positioned adjacent to a second portion of the at least one gate structure, and wherein the first component of the two-component gate cut structure has a first width, and the second component of the two-component gate cut structure has a second width, wherein the first width is greater than the second width. Claims 2-5, 7-9, and 11 depend on claim 1.
Claim 12 contains allowable subject matter because of the limitation a first transistor side gate cut region that extends through an entirety of a gate structure for the first transistor device to the mid dielectric layer; and a second transistor side gate cut region that extends through an entirety of a gate structure for the second transistor device to the mid dielectric layer, wherein the first transistor side gate cut region has a first width, and the second transistor side gate cut region has a second width, wherein the first width is less than the second width in combination with the other elements of the claim. Claims 13 and 15-16 depend on claim 12.
Claim 17 contains allowable subject matter because of the limitation the first side of the vertical stack and the second sides side of the vertical stack are opposite one another, and wherein the first field effect transistor gate cut has a first width, and the second field effect transistor gate cut has a second width, wherein the first width is greater than the second width in combination with the other elements of the claim. Claims 18 and 21-22 depend on claim 17.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/REEMA PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812 5/19/2026
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