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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of species I, claims 1-20, in the reply filed on May 29, 2026 is acknowledged.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on January 16, 2024 and August 30, 2024 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings (Figs. 9A and 9B) are objected to because “FN” and “GC” have both been pointed to a same layer. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: “22 to 33E” should read “22-24, 25A-25E, 26, 27A-27E, 28, 29A-29E, 30, 31A-31E, 32 and 33A-33E” (first occurrence: [0035]); “34 to 39C” should read “34-38 and 39A-39C” (first occurrence: [0036]); “41 to 44D” should read “41, 42A-42D, 43 and 44A-44D” (first occurrence: [0038]); “48 to 51C” should read “48, 49A-49C, 50 and 51A-51C” (first occurrence: [0041]); “53 to 56C” should read “53, 54A-54C, 55, 56A-56C” (first occurrence: [0043]); “3A to 21” should read “3A-3F, 4, 5, 6A-6D, 7A-7B, 8, 9A-9B, 10A-10B, 11, 12A-12D, 13, 14A-14E, 15, 16A-16D, 17, 18, 19A-19E, 20 and 21” (first occurrence: [0096]); “5 to 6D” should read “5 and 6A-6D” (first occurrence [0108]); “8 to 9B” should read “8, 9A and 9B” (first occurrence [0110]); “11 to 12D” should read “11 and 12A-12D” (first occurrence: [0122]); “13 to 14E” should read “13 and 14A-14E” (first occurrence [0126]); “1A to 2E” should read “1A, 1B and 2A-2E” (first occurrence [0129]); “15 to 19E” should read “15, 16A-16D, 17, 18 and 19A-19E” (first occurrence [0134]); “15 to 16D” should read “15 and 16A-16D” (first occurrence [0136]); “18 to 19E” should read “18 and 19A-19E” (first occurrence [0138]); “22 to 59C” should read “22-24, 25A-25E, 26, 27A-27E, 28, 29A-29E, 30, 31A-31E, 32, 33A-33E, 34-38, 39A-39C, 40, 41, 42A-42D, 43, 44A-44D, 45A-45B, 46-48, 49A-49C, 50, 51A-51C, 52A-52E, 53, 54A-54C, 55, 56A-56C, 57, 58 and 59A-59C” (first occurrence [0149]); “23A” should read “23” ([0150]); “26 to 27E” should read “26 and 27A-27E” (first occurrence [0159]); “28 to 29E” should read “28 and 29A-29E” (first occurrence [0162]); “30 to 31E” should read “30 and 31A-31E” (first occurrence [0164]); “32 to 33E” should read “32 and 32A-32E” (first occurrence [0169]); “24 to 25E” should read “24 and 25A-25E” (first occurrence [0180]); “38 to 39C” should read “38 and 39A-39C” (first occurrence [0182]); “41 to 42D” should read “41 and 42A-42D” (first occurrence: [0188]); “28A to 29D” should read “28 and 29A-29E” (first occurrence [0189]); “43 to 44D” should read “43 and 44A-44D” (first occurrence [0191]); “48 to 49C” should read “48 and 49A-49C” (first occurrence [0201]); “50 to 51C” should read “50 and 51A-51C” (first occurrence [0202]); “55 to 56C” should read “55 and 56A-56C” (first occurrence [0218]).
Appropriate correction is required.
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
The claimed limitation of “a first word line … extending in a second direction”, as recited in claims 1, 10 and 17, is unclear as to which dimension of the first word line extending in a second direction applicant refers.
The claimed limitation of “a bit line … extending in a third direction”, as recited in claims 1, 10 and 17, is unclear as to which dimension of the bit line extending in a third direction applicant refers.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art of record does not teach or suggest, singularly or in combination, at least the limitations of “the first edge portion comprises a first top surface and a second top surface, wherein the second top surface of the first edge portion is closer to the second edge portion than the first top surface of the first edge portion, and wherein the first top surface of the first edge portion is at a level that is higher than a level of the second top surface of the first edge portion”, as recited in claim 1; “the first edge portion comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion of the first edge portion is recessed in the second direction such that a width of the upper portion of the first edge portion in the second direction is less than a width of the lower portion of the first edge portion in the second direction”, as recited in claim 10; and “the first edge portion comprises a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein the second side surface of the first edge portion is closer to the second edge portion than the first side surface of the first edge portion, wherein the first side surface of the first edge portion has a linear profile, and wherein the second side surface of the first edge portion has a stepwise profile”, as recited in claim 17.
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Ref's A-F are cited as being related to a semiconductor device.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MEIYA LI whose telephone number is (571)270-1572. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7AM-3PM.
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/MEIYA LI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2811
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