Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/434,875

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH IMPROVED SOURCE AND DRAIN CONTACT AREA AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREOF

Non-Final OA

Filed

Feb 07, 2024

Priority

May 05, 2021 — continuation of 11/476,342 +1 more

Examiner

BOWEN, ADAM S

Art Unit

2897

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +2.4% interview lift. Interview lift (+2.4%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 726 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

BOWEN, ADAM S View full profile →

Grants 96% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

700 granted / 726 resolved

+28.4% vs TC avg

Minimal +2% lift

Without

With

+2.4%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Fast prosecutor

1y 9m

Avg Prosecution

20 currently pending

Career history

747

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.3%

-38.7% vs TC avg

§103

64.4%

+24.4% vs TC avg

§102

21.1%

-18.9% vs TC avg

§112

2.0%

-38.0% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 726 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 07, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 09, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/378,106

Patent 12685227

ACTIVE MATRIX DEVICE

2y 9m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/378,769

Patent 12684908

DISPLAY PANEL AND DISPLAY DEVICE

2y 9m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/535,437

Patent 12677453

FRONTSIDE ILD OPTIMIZATION FOR BACKSIDE POWER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/518,766

Patent 12672345

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME

2y 7m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/347,919

Patent 12666703

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE

2y 11m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

96%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+2.4%)

1y 9m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 726 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.