Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/466,180

VERTICAL GAN POWER TRANSISTOR UNIT CELL, VERTICAL GAN POWER TRANSISTOR AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A VERTICAL GAN POWER TRANSISTOR UNIT CELL

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Sep 13, 2023
Priority
Sep 14, 2022 — DE 10 2022 209 606.1
Examiner
CHEN, JACK S J
Art Unit
2893
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Robert Bosch GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
77%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
82%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 77% — above average
77%
Career Allowance Rate
438 granted / 572 resolved
+8.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +5% lift
Without
With
+5.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
49 currently pending
Career history
610
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
53.6%
+13.6% vs TC avg
§102
23.8%
-16.2% vs TC avg
§112
9.9%
-30.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 572 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
CTNF 18/466,180 CTNF 74738 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 with traverse of Group I, Species II (fig. 2), with claims 10-12 and 14-18 indicated by Applicant to read thereon, in the reply filed on 1/12/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that because the Office’s characterization of Fig. 3 as a separate species is incorrect. This is not found persuasive for reasons deemed to be of record. Fig. 3 appears to be a separate species since it at least fails to show having unit cell structure 100 and/or 200 of fig. 1 and/or 2. For example, it does not include having a channel region, source region and/or gate as shown in fig. 1 and/or 2. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL. While Examiner acknowledges that Applicant indicated that claims 16-18 read on the elected species, claims 16-18 does not read on the elected species II (fig. 2) because fig. 2 at least fails to show having an edge termination and are hereby withdrawn from further consideration therefor. 08-05 AIA Claim s 13 and 16-19 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention/species , there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 1/12/2026 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claim 12 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. Re claim 12, the term “ZiO” is unclear and indefinite (i.e., what is Zi?) Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-12-aia AIA (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-15-03-aia AIA Claim s 10-12 and 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kim et al., U.S. Pub. No. 2023/0307529 A1 . Re claim 10. Kim et al. disclose a semiconductor device, comprising a drift layer 120 (e.g., fig. 3A); and at least one field shielding region 340a/340b (e.g., fig. 3A) regionally disposed in the drift layer and including an intrinsically p-type material (e.g., paragraph 86), see figs. 1A-8H and pages 1-14 for more details. Re claim 11, wherein the intrinsically p-type material including a transition metal oxide (e.g., NiO, paragraph 86). Re claim 12, wherein the transition metal oxide is NiO or ZiO (e.g., NiO, paragraph 86). Re claim 14, wherein a first trench and second trenches extend into the drift layer (e.g., fig. 3A), wherein the first trench and the second trenches are disposed spaced apart parallel to one another (e.g., fig. 3A), wherein the second trenches (e.g., support shielding region is formed in the second trenches) are deeper than the first trench (e.g., fig. 3A), wherein the at least one field shielding region 340b is disposed inside the second trenches and a source electrode 190 is disposed on the at least one field shielding region 340b (e.g., fig. 3A). Re claim 15, wherein the second trenches extend at least into a lower third of the drift layer 120 (e.g., fig. 3A). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JACK CHEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1689. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. 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, Yara J. Green can be reached at (571)270-3035. 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. /JACK S CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2893 Application/Control Number: 18/466,180 Page 2 Art Unit: 2893 Application/Control Number: 18/466,180 Page 3 Art Unit: 2893 Application/Control Number: 18/466,180 Page 4 Art Unit: 2893
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 13, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
77%
Grant Probability
82%
With Interview (+5.2%)
2y 11m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 572 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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