DETAILED ACTION
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 – 4, 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(2) as being anticipated by KIM (2022/0359358).
With regard to claim 1, KIM discloses a package substrate (for example, see fig. 2), comprising:
a core layer (400), having a first surface (400a) and a second surface (400b) opposite each other, and at least one opening (400T) and a plurality of conductive through vias (415) connecting the first surface (400a) and the second surface (400b);
at least one functional component (340), disposed in the at least one opening (400T) of the core layer (400), wherein the at least one opening (400T) exposes at least one action surface (a top surface) of the at least one functional component (340);
at least one spacer (referred to as “420A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below; wherein the spacer 420A including conductive layers 350, an adhesive layer 450; a mold layer 460 and connection pads 352), directly disposed on (on the bottom surface) the at least one functional component (340) and having at least one bottom surface (referred to as “350A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) relatively away from the at least one functional component (340), wherein the bottom surface of the at least one spacer (420A) is equal to or higher than the second surface (400b) of the core layer (400), and the at least one spacer (420A) is at least one thermal interface material (adhesive interface material 450 of the spacer 420A as annotated below, made of insulating polymer functions as a thermal interface material by restricting the movement of heat through microscopic structural barriers, low intrinsic conductivity and trapped gas pockets), or at least one copper block (conductive pads 352 of the spacer 420A made of copper material, for example, see paragraph [0042], functions as thermal material).
a filler (460), filled in the at least one opening (400T) and having a third surface (referred to as “460A1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) and a fourth surface (referred to as “460A2” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) opposite each other,
wherein the filler (460) covers the at least one functional component (340) and the at least one spacer (420A) and completely fills a gap (referred to as “G” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) between the at least one opening (400T), the at least one functional component (340), and the at least one spacer (420A),
the third surface (460A1) exposes the at least one action surface (the top surface) of the at least one functional component (340), and the fourth surface (460A2) exposes the at least one bottom surface (350A) of the at least one spacer (420A);
a first build-up structure (200), disposed on the first surface (400a) of the core layer (400) and the third surface (460A1) of the filler (460) and electrically connected to the at least one functional component (340) and the conductive through vias (415); and
a second build-up structure (250), disposed on the second surface of the core layer (400) and the fourth surface (460A2) of the filler (460), contacting the at least one bottom surface (350A) of the at least one spacer (420A), and electrically connected to the conductive through vias (415).
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With regard to claim 2, KIM discloses there is a first height difference between the third surface (460A1) of the filler (460) and the first surface (the bottom portion surface of the conductive portion 342) of the core layer (400), and there is a second height difference between the fourth surface (460A2) of the filler (460) and the second surface (the bottom portion surface of the conductive portion 352) of the core layer (400).
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With regard to claim 3, KIM discloses an orthographic projection of the at least one spacer (420A) on (on the bottom surface) the at least one functional component (340) is smaller than the at least one functional component (340).
With regard to claim 4, KIM discloses wherein when viewed in cross section, a shape of the at least one spacer (420A) comprises a rectangle.
With regard to claim 8, KIM discloses wherein the at least one spacer (referred to as “420A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below; wherein the spacer 420A including conductive layers 350, adhesive layer 450, conductive pads 352) comprises at least one first spacer (450) and at least one second spacer (350), and the at least one first spacer (450) is located between the at least one functional component (340) and the at least one second spacer (350).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KIM (2022/0359358) in view of KURAMOCHI (2025/0149527).
With regard to claim 5, KIM does not clearly disclose the core layer has a first thickness, the at least one functional component has at least one second thickness, and a difference between the first thickness and the at least one second thickness is at least more than 100 microns.
However, KURAMOCHI discloses the core layer (22) has a first thickness, the at least one functional component (32) has at least one second thickness, and a difference between the first thickness and the at least one second thickness is at least more than 100 microns. (a thickness of the core layer 22 is 2.0 mm = 2000 micrometer. The thickness of the at least one functional component 32 appears is a half thickness of the core layer 22, and to be about 1.0 mm = 1000 micrometer. Therefore, a difference between the first thickness and the at least one second thickness is at least more than 1000 microns). However, since the patent drawings are not labeled as “to scale,” one cannot be certain that the thickness of the at least one functional component 32 appears is a half thickness of the core layer 22, and to be about 1.0 mm = 1000 micrometer as seemingly shown [see MPEP 2125]. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the claimed invention to form a difference between the first thickness and the at least one second thickness is at least more than 1000 microns, because Fig. 2 suggests a difference between the first thickness and the at least one second thickness is at least more than 1000 microns and a prima facie case of obviousness exists where device dimensions of the prior art are such that one of ordinary skill in the art would have expected them to have the same performance {MPEP 2144.04(IV)(A)}
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the KIM’s device to have the core layer has a first thickness, the at least one functional component has at least one second thickness, and a difference between the first thickness and the at least one second thickness is at least more than 100 microns as taught by KURAMOCHI in order to minimize the signal interference for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KIM (2022/0359358) in view of Nickerson et al. (11705383).
With regard to claim 6, KIM does not clearly disclose the at least one functional component is separated from an inner wall of the at least one opening by at least one spacing, and the at least one spacing is at least more than 20 microns.
However, KURAMOCHI discloses the at least one functional component (134) is separated from an inner wall (referred to as “141A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) of the at least one opening (141) by at least one spacing (D), and the at least one spacing (D) is at least more than 500 microns (for example, column 4, lines 60, 61, figs. 1, 5).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the KIM’s device to have the at least one functional component is separated from an inner wall of the at least one opening by at least one spacing, and the at least one spacing is 500 microns as taught by Nickerson et al. in order to minimize the signal interference and secure a high electrical connection efficiency for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Response to Amendment
6. Applicant's arguments with respect to claims have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Conclusion
7. 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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TAN N TRAN whose telephone number is (571) 272 - 1923. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30-5:00PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Davienne Monbleau can be reached on (571) 272-1945. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TAN N TRAN/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812
