Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/395,203

APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR UNIQUELY IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL DIES ACROSS DIE STACKS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 22, 2023
Examiner
ERDEM, FAZLI
Art Unit
2812
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allow Rate
895 granted / 1050 resolved
+17.2% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+15.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
1082
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
48.4%
+8.4% vs TC avg
§102
39.1%
-0.9% vs TC avg
§112
7.4%
-32.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1050 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. 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. Clai ms 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Eilert (20050010725) Regarding Claim 1, in Fig s . 1 and 2 and paragraphs 0005, 0017 and 0028, Eilert discloses an apparatus comprising: a die stack 104/106 ; and a plurality of signals 116 arranged across the die stack, wherein the plurality of signals are manipulated to form a unique identifier for each die included in the die stack (see paragraphs 0017 and 0025) . Regarding Claim 2, in Eilert, the plurality of signals comprise a plurality of immutable binary signals that are manipulated at least in part by swizzling to form the unique identifier for each die included in the die stack. Regarding Claim 3, in Eilert, wherein the unique identifiers comprise: a first unique identifier for a first die included in the die stack, the first unique identifier being formed by a first pattern of the plurality of signals; and a second unique identifier for a second die included in the die stack, the second unique identifier being formed by a second pattern of the plurality of signals. Regarding Claim 4, in Eilert, the plurality of signals are manipulated at least in part by digital logic to form the unique identifier for each die included in the die stack. Regarding Claim 5, in Eilert, the unique identifiers collectively amount to a number that is at least twice as high as a total number of signals included in the plurality of signals. Regarding Claim 6, in Eilert, the digital logic comprises at least one of: a linear-feedback shift register; a digital adder; or a digital subtractor. Regarding Claim 7, in Eilert, the plurality of signals comprises: a first signal that is shifted in one direction relative to a certain sequence between a first die and a second die included in the die stack; and second and third signals that are shifted in another direction opposite the one direction between the first die and the second die. Regarding Claim 8, in Eilerts, wherein: the certain sequence comprises a first position, a second position, and a third position aligned across the die stack; and the plurality of signals comprises: a first signal coupled to the first position on the first die; a second signal coupled to the second position on the first die; and a third signal coupled to the third position on the first die. Regarding Claim 9, in Eilert, the first signal is shifted to a final position in the certain sequence on the second die; the second signal is shifted to the first position on the second die; and the third signal is shifted to the second position on the second die. Regarding Claim 10, in Eilert, the final position in the certain sequence is the third position. Regarding Claim 11, in Eilert, the plurality of signals comprises a fourth signal that is coupled to a fourth position in the certain sequence on the first die and is shifted to the third position on the second die. Regarding Claim 12, in Eilert, the first signal is shifted to the third position on a third die included in the die stack; the second signal is shifted to the final position on the third die; the third signal is shifted to the first position on the third die; and the fourth signal is shifted to the second position on the third die. Regarding Claim 13, in Eilert the first signal is shifted to the second position on a fourth die included in the die stack; the second signal is shifted to the third position on the fourth die; the third signal is shifted to the final position on the fourth die; and the fourth signal is shifted to the first position on the fourth die. Regarding Claim 14, in Eilert, wherein the first die, the second die, the third die, and the fourth die are duplicates of one another. Regarding Claim 15, in Eilert, the certain sequence is arranged at a specific location relative to the first die; and the certain sequence is arranged at the specific location relative to the second die. Regarding Claim 16, in Eilert, a base die that is coupled to the die stack, wherein a number of dies included in the die stack corresponds to a number of signals included in the plurality of signals. Regarding Claim 17, in Eilert, Figs 1 and 2 and in paragraphs 0005, 0017 and 0028, a base die; a die stack; and a plurality of signals arranged across the die stack, wherein the plurality of signals are manipulated to form a unique identifier for each die included in the die stack. Regarding Claim 18, in Eilert, the plurality of signals comprise a plurality of immutable binary signals that are manipulated at least in part by swizzling to form the unique identifier for each die included in the die stack. Regarding Claim 19, in Eilert, the plurality of signals are manipulated at least in part by digital logic to form the unique identifier for each die included in the die stack. Regarding Claim 20, in Figs 1 and 2 and paragraphs 0005, 0017 and 0028, Eilert discloses coupling a base die to a die stack; arranging a plurality of signals across the die stack; and manipulating the plurality of signals to form a unique identifier for each die included in the die stack. Examiner is including Nakanishi 20140241022 (Fig. 7, paragraphs 0063 and 0064) , Johson 2010031684, paragraphs 0028, 0030 and 0037 , Funaba (20050082664) paragraphs 0031 and 0064, Vandebriel (20190165791) (paragraph 0003) as pertinent prior art references that are not relied upon on this rejection but that do disclose uniquely identifying individual dies on a stacked die configuration. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT FAZLI ERDEM whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-1914 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F, 8am-5pm . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Davienne Monbleau can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-1945 . 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. /FAZLI ERDEM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812 2/19/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 22, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
85%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+15.9%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1050 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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