Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/386,963

CIRCUIT BOARD, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENT PACKAGE INCLUDING THE SAME

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 03, 2023
Priority
Mar 02, 2023 — RE 10-2023-0027847
Examiner
BURNS, TREMESHA WILLIS
Art Unit
2847
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
673 granted / 867 resolved
+9.6% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+17.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
54 currently pending
Career history
887
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
47.2%
+7.2% vs TC avg
§102
49.9%
+9.9% vs TC avg
§112
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 867 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Response to Amendment/Arguments Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 1 – 8 and 15 - 18 have been considered, and have found to be persuasive. Please find below the ground(s) of rejection in view of a different embodiment of the prior art, Hsu. 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. Claims 1 – 8 and 15 – 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hsu (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0158847). Regarding claim 1, in Figure 2D-2, Hsu discloses a circuit board comprising: an insulating layer (22) including a first area (left area in which conductive structure 23c is disposed in) and a second area (right area in which circuit layer 21 is disposed in); a circuit wire (210) disposed inside the first area of the insulating layer; a first conductive pad (24) connected to the circuit wire and having an upper surface protruding above an upper surface of the insulating layer and a lower surface embedded in the insulating layer (a portion of the lower surface of pad 24 is embedded in dielectric layer 22; Figure 2D-2); and a circuit element (21) including an element pad (21) and disposed inside the second area of the insulating layer, wherein an extension line of an upper surface of the first conductive pad and an upper surface of the element pad are spaced apart from each other along a direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the insulating layer (Figure 2D-2), and based on a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the insulating layer, the upper surface of the first conductive pad is disposed on the upper surface of the insulating layer (Figure 2D-2), and the upper surface of the element pad is disposed below the upper surface of the insulating layer (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 2, Hsu discloses wherein a layer on which the circuit element is disposed in the second area and a layer on which a portion of the circuit wire is disposed in the first area are disposed on the same layer (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 3, Hsu discloses wherein a width of the element pad is wider than a width of the first conductive pad (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 4, Hsu discloses wherein the circuit element further includes an element main body having an upper surface on which the element pad is disposed, and an element insulating layer disposed on the upper surface of the element main body and having a first opening exposing at least a part of the element pad (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 5, Hsu discloses wherein based on the upper surface of the element main body, a height of an upper surface of the first conductive pad is higher than a height of an upper surface of the element pad (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 6, Hsu discloses wherein the circuit element is disposed to have a boundary surface parallel to the upper surface of the insulating layer in the second area, and at least a portion of the circuit wire is disposed on the same layer as the boundary surface (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 7, Hsu discloses a second conductive pad connected to the circuit wire and protruding downwardly from a lower surface of the insulating layer, and a first solder resist layer covering the lower surface of the insulating layer and having a second opening exposing at least a part of the second conductive pad (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 8, Hsu discloses a second solder resist layer covering the upper surface of the insulating layer and having a third opening exposing at least a part of the first conductive pad (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 9, Hsu discloses wherein the circuit element includes an integrated passive element (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 15, in Figure 2D-2, Hsu discloses an electronic component package, comprising: a circuit board including an insulating layer (22) having a first area (left area in which conductive structure 23c is disposed in) and a second area (right area in which circuit layer 21 is disposed in); a circuit wire (210) disposed in the first area inside the insulating layer; a first conductive pad (24) connected to the circuit wire and having an upper surface protruding above an upper surface of the insulating layer and a lower surface embedded in the insulating layer (a portion of the lower surface of pad 24 is embedded in dielectric layer 22; Figure 2D-2); a circuit element (21) including an element pad (21) disposed inside and at the second area of the insulating layer; an electronic component disposed on the circuit board; and a conductive adhesive member disposed on the electronic component and electrically connected to the first conductive pad and the element pad (Figure 2D-2), wherein an extension line of an upper surface of the first conductive pad and an upper surface of the element pad are spaced apart from each other along a direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the insulating layer (Figure 2D-2), and based on a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the insulating layer, the upper surface of the first conductive pad is higher than the upper surface of the insulating layer (Figure 2D-2), and the upper surface of the element pad is lower than the upper surface of the insulating layer (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 16, Hsu discloses wherein the conductive adhesive member includes a bump disposed to cover a signal wire of the electronic component, a first adhesive member that adheres the bump and the first conductive pad to each other, and a second adhesive member that adheres the bump and the element pad to each other, and a maximum width of the second adhesive member is wider than a maximum width of the first adhesive member (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 17, Hsu discloses wherein a layer on which the circuit element is disposed in the second area and a layer on which a portion of the circuit wire is disposed in the first area are disposed on the same layer (Figure 2D-2). Regarding claim 18, Hsu discloses wherein a width of the element pad is wider than a width of the first conductive pad (Figure 2D-2). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TREMESHA W BURNS whose telephone number is (571)270-3391. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am - 4:30 pm EST. 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, Timothy Thompson can be reached at (571) 272-2342. 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. TREMESHA W. BURNS Primary Examiner Art Unit 2847 /TREMESHA W BURNS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 03, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 30, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Feb 09, 2026
Response Filed
May 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+17.7%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 867 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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