Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/400,377

DUAL-GATE SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURES FOR POWER APPLICATIONS

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Dec 29, 2023
Examiner
CRITE, ANTONIO B
Art Unit
2817
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Qorvo US Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 5m
To Grant
69%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allow Rate
351 granted / 435 resolved
+12.7% vs TC avg
Minimal -12% lift
Without
With
+-11.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
466
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
51.5%
+11.5% vs TC avg
§102
25.7%
-14.3% vs TC avg
§112
20.1%
-19.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 435 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
DETAILED ACTION This Action is responsive to the communication filed on 12/29/2023. 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. In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to 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. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. Claims 1-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention. Claim 1, in lines 4-5, recites the following limitation: “a drain ohmic contact between the source ohmic contact and the drain ohmic contact.” It is unclear how the drain ohmic contact is between the source ohmic contact and the drain ohmic contact. Therefore, the limitation has been rendered indefinite. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the floating ohmic contact" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the floating ohmic contact" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the floating ohmic contact" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the floating ohmic contact" in line 12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 2-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite due to the claims’ dependency to Claim 1. 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 22-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nidhi (US 2020/ 0373297 ). Regarding claim 22, Nidhi (see, e.g. , FIG. 2) discloses a mobile terminal with power amplifier circuitry having a dual-gate HEMT, the dual-gate HEMT comprising: a substrate 108 (Para 0030) ; a body region 112, 140-1, 140-2, 250, 252 over the substrate 108 comprising: a source ohmic contact 140-1 , a drain ohmic contact 140-2 , and a floating ohmic contact 250, 252 between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the drain ohmic contact 140-2 (Para 0041, Para 0064) ; and a channel layer 112 having a first portion e.g. , left portion of 112 between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 and a second portion e.g. , right portion of 112 between the drain ohmic contact 140-2 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0034) ; a first gate electrode 142 over the first portion e.g. , left portion of 112 of the channel layer 112 and between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0042) ; and a second gate electrode 144 over the second portion e.g. , right portion of 112 of the channel layer 112 and between the drain ohmic contact 140-2 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0042) . Regarding claim 23, Nidhi (see, e.g. , FIG. 2) discloses a user device with power amplifier circuitry having a dual-gate HEMT, the dual-gate HEMT comprising: a substrate 108 (Para 0030) ; a body region 112, 140-1, 140-2, 250, 252 over the substrate 108 comprising: a source ohmic contact 140-1 , a drain ohmic contact 140-2 , and a floating ohmic contact 250, 252 between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the drain ohmic contact 140-2 (Para 0041, Para 0064) ; and a channel layer 112 having a first portion e.g. , left portion of 112 between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 and a second portion e.g. , right portion of 112 between the drain ohmic contact 140-2 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0034) ; a first gate electrode 142 over the first portion e.g. , left portion of 112 of the channel layer 112 and between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0042) ; and a second gate electrode 144 over the second portion e.g. , right portion of 112 of the channel layer 112 and between the drain ohmic contact 140-2 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0042) . Regarding claim 24, Nidhi (see, e.g. , FIG. 2) discloses a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure, comprising: providing a substrate 108 (Para 0030) ; providing a body region 112, 140-1, 140-2, 250, 252 over the substrate 108 , wherein: a source ohmic contact 140-1 , a drain ohmic contact 140-2 , and a floating ohmic contact 250, 252 between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the drain ohmic contact 140-2 are formed (Para 0041, Para 0064) ; and forming a channel layer 112 having a first portion e.g. , left portion of 112 between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 and a second portion e.g. , right portion of 112 between the drain ohmic contact 140-2 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0034) ; forming a first gate electrode 142 over the first portion e.g. , left portion of 112 of the channel layer 112 and between the source ohmic contact 140-1 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0042) ; and forming a second gate electrode 144 over the second portion e.g. , right portion of 112 of the channel layer 112 and between the drain ohmic contact 140-2 and the floating ohmic contact 250, 252 (Para 0042) . Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT ANTONIO CRITE whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571) 270-5267 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Monday - Friday, 10:00 am - 6:30 pm . 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 Kretelia Graham can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571) 272-5055 . 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. /ANTONIO B CRITE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2817
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 29, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12604763
METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PLURALITY OF COMPONENTS, COMPONENT, AND COMPONENT ASSEMBLY
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12593548
DISPLAY PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12588325
DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12588318
ELECTRONIC DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12588342
LIGHT-EMITTING PLATE AND DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
69%
With Interview (-11.9%)
2y 5m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 435 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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