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 .
DETAILED ACTION
In response to the Communications dated April 2, 2026, claims 1-20 are active in
this application.
Specification
If there are cross-reference to related applications, please include the
respective patent numbers, if known.
Claim Objections
Claims 2-12 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 base claim and any intervening claims.
Claim Rejections- 35 U.S.C. § 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 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yun [US. Patent Application # 20150318045].
With respect to claim 1, Yun discloses a non-volatile memory device [figs. 1-4 and 7] comprising: a memory block [any BLK1-BLKZ within 110] including a plurality of cell strings [CS11-CS31] including a plurality of string selection transistors [respective SST’s] and a plurality of memory cells [MC1-MC8], a first string selection line [SSL1] connected to a string selection transistor of a first cell string of the plurality of cell strings, and a second string selection line [SSL2] connected to a string selection transistor of a second cell string of the plurality of cell strings; and a control circuit [150] configured to control a recovery operation [RECOVERY period] to apply a recovery voltage with different drive strengths to the first string selection line [for SEL SSL linear decrease from plateau of Vssl to GND] and the second string selection line [GND] in a recovery period [RECOVERY period].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 13-20 are allowable over the prior art of record.
The following is an Examiner's statement of reasons for the indication of
allowable subject matter: the prior art of records does not show (in addition to the other
elements in the claim) the following:
-with respect to claim 13, applying the string selection turn-on voltage to the first string selection line and the second string selection line; counting a period of a voltage of the first string selection line being less than or equal to a first reference voltage; and applying a recovery voltage with different drive strengths to the first string selection line and the second string selection line based on a time length of the period in a recovery period.
-with respect to claim 18, a plurality of second selection gate electrodes on the conductive pattern; and a plurality of second channel structures that penetrate the plurality of second selection gate electrodes and extend in the first direction and thus widths of the plurality of second selection gate electrodes in a second direction that crosses the first direction are different from each other, wherein the plurality of second selection gate electrodes are applied with a same voltage with different drive strengths in a recovery period.
Conclusion
For applicant’s benefit portions of the cited reference(s) have been cited to aid in
the review of the rejection(s). While every attempt has been made to be thorough and consistent within the rejection it is noted that the PRIOR ART MUST BE CONSIDERED IN ITS ENTIRETY, INCLUDING DISCLOSURES THAT TEACH AWAY FROM THE CLAIMS. See MPEP 2141.02 VI.
When responding to the Office action, Applicants are advised to provide
the Examiner with line and page numbers of the application and/or references cited to assist the Examiner in the prosecution of this case.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications
from the Examiner should be directed to Michael T. Tran whose telephone number is (571) 272-1795. Interview agendas may be emailed to Michael.tran@uspto.gov. The Examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday from 6:00AM-4:30 P.M.
Any inquiry of a general nature or relating to the status of this application.
should be directed to the Group receptionist whose telephone number is (571) 272-1650.
/MICHAEL T TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2827 May 17, 2026
Prosecution Insights