Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/440,581

MICROELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH MULTIPLE STEP CONTACTS EXTENDING TO STEPPED TIERS, AND RELATED METHODS

Non-Final OA

Filed

Feb 13, 2024

Priority

Sep 02, 2021 — provisional 63/239,984 +1 more

Examiner

JUNGE, BRYAN R.

Art Unit

2898

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

Micron Technology Inc.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +8.8% interview lift. Interview lift (+8.8%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 623 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

JUNGE, BRYAN R. View full profile →

Grants 58% of resolved cases

Career Allowance Rate

361 granted / 623 resolved

-10.1% vs TC avg

Moderate +9% lift

Without

With

+8.8%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 7m

Avg Prosecution

25 currently pending

Career history

655

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.1%

-39.9% vs TC avg

§103

90.8%

+50.8% vs TC avg

§102

1.9%

-38.1% vs TC avg

§112

3.5%

-36.5% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 623 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 13, 2024

Application Filed

May 28, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/202,073

Patent 12684773

THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEMORY DEVICES HAVING ISOLATION STRUCTURE FOR SOURCE SELECT GATE LINE AND METHODS FOR FORMING THE SAME

3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/623,478

Patent 12666717

DISPLAY PANEL AND MANUFACTURE METHOD THEREOF

3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

17/710,139

Patent 12642064

THROUGH TRENCH ISOLATION FOR DIE

4y 1m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

18/460,942

Patent 12641904

LIGHT RECEIVING ELEMENT AND LIGHT DETECTOR

2y 8m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

18/033,366

Patent 12628514

Display Substrate, Manufacturing Method Therefor, and Display Apparatus

3y 0m to grant Granted May 12, 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

58%

Grant Probability

67%

With Interview (+8.8%)

2y 7m (~2m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 623 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.