This Office Action is in response to the papers filed on September 13, 2023.
Claim 16 is objected to because “great” should be “greater.” Correction is required.
Claims 1, 2, and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Tung (United States Patent 9,780,165).
As to independent claim 1, Tung discloses a semiconductor device (see the entire patent, including the Fig. 7 disclosure), comprising: a fin-shaped structure 30 on a substrate 12, wherein the fin-shaped structure comprises: a bottom portion (the bottom third, for example), wherein a top surface of the bottom portion is greater than half of a bottom surface of the bottom portion; a middle portion (the middle third, for example); and a top portion (the top third, for example), wherein a tip of the top portion comprises a tapered portion.
As to dependent claim 2, Tung’s device further comprises a base portion 32 between the bottom portion and the substrate.
As to dependent claim 4, a bottom surface (width) of Tung’s bottom portion (the bottom third portion of fin-shaped structure 30) is less than a height of the bottom portion.
Claims 10 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Park (United States Patent 7,148,541).
As to independent claim 10, Park discloses a semiconductor device (see the entire patent, including the Fig. 10 disclosure), comprising: a fin-shaped structure 56 on a substrate 50, wherein the fin-shaped structure comprises: a bottom portion (the bottom third, for example), wherein a top surface of the bottom portion is greater than half of a bottom surface of the bottom portion; a middle portion (the middle third, for example); and a top portion (the top third, for example), wherein a tip of the top portion comprises a round portion.
As to dependent claim 13, a bottom surface (width) of Park’s bottom portion (the bottom third portion of fin-shaped structure 56) is less than a height of the bottom portion.
Claims 3, 5-9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, and 18 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the independent claim and any intervening claims.
Registered practitioners can telephone the examiner at (571) 272-1843. Any voicemail message left for the examiner should include the registration number of the registered practitioner calling. The examiner’s supervisor is Wael Fahmy, whose telephone number is (571) 272-1705.
/MARK V PRENTY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2814
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