Last updated: July 05, 2026

Application No. 18/435,180

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH DIELECTRIC ON EPITAXY SIDEWALL

Non-Final OA

Filed

Feb 07, 2024

Examiner

KIM, TONG-HO

Art Unit

2811

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +0.6% interview lift. Interview lift (+0.6%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 1078 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

KIM, TONG-HO View full profile →

Grants 95% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

1027 granted / 1078 resolved

+27.3% vs TC avg

Minimal +1% lift

Without

With

+0.6%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Fast prosecutor

1y 8m

Avg Prosecution

25 currently pending

Career history

1096

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.1%

-39.9% vs TC avg

§103

66.8%

+26.8% vs TC avg

§102

14.6%

-25.4% vs TC avg

§112

6.8%

-33.2% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1078 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 07, 2024

Application Filed

Mar 25, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/396,306

Patent 12672304

ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION DEVICE

2y 6m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/333,004

Patent 12666650

FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS (FETS) EMPLOYING THERMAL EXPANSION OF WORK FUNCTION METAL LAYERS FOR STRAIN EFFECT AND RELATED FABRICATION METHODS

3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/469,856

Patent 12666587

MEMORY DEVICES WITH A BACKSIDE READ BIT LINE

2y 9m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/475,054

Patent 12667024

Barriers for Selective Exposed Molding of Variable Height Components

2y 9m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/206,060

Patent 12660602

METAL INTERCONNECT LAYERS FOR FET ARCHITECTURES

3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 16, 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

95%

Grant Probability

96%

With Interview (+0.6%)

1y 8m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 1078 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.