Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/584,915

INTRA-CHIP AND INTER-CHIP WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Feb 22, 2024
Examiner
SOE, KYAW Z
Art Unit
2412
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Micron Technology, Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 1m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allow Rate
311 granted / 348 resolved
+31.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
382
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.0%
-34.0% vs TC avg
§103
57.1%
+17.1% vs TC avg
§102
7.7%
-32.3% vs TC avg
§112
15.8%
-24.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 348 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION This office action is a response to an application filed on 02/22/2024. Claims 1- 20 are pending for examination. Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) was filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Drawings The Examiner contends that the drawings submitted on 02/22/2024 are acceptable for examination proceedings. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or non-obviousness. Claims 1-3, 5-12, 14-17 and 19- 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Luo et al. (US 20200274608 A1), hereinafter “Luo”; and in further view of Zheng (US 20150169495 A1), hereinafter “Zheng”. Regarding claim 1, Luo teaches A system comprising: at least one processing unit [Fig. 1]; and non-transitory computer readable media encoded with executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processing unit, is configured to cause the system to [Fig. 1; item 107]: receive input data for a wireless, radio frequency (RF) transmission [Luo: Fig. 9; Par. 96 teaches obtaining input data associated with RF transmission]; receive selection of a wireless protocol of a plurality of wireless protocols to be utilized in the wireless, RF transmission to a semiconductor chip [Luo: Fig. 8, Par. 93- 94 teaches of receiving and configure to select the plurality of ; based on the selected wireless protocol, select a set of weight values from a plurality of sets of weight values [Luo: Fig. 8; Par. 87-91 teaches of calculating and selecting plurality of coefficients based on the processing mode selection]; mix the input data using the selected set of weight values and provide output data based on the input data being mixed using set of weight values, the output data representative of the wireless, RF transmission being processed according to the selected wireless protocol [Luo: Par. 87-91 teaches mixing input data with coefficient data (weight data) to generate output data representative of wireless protocol] PNG media_image1.png 648 426 media_image1.png Greyscale However, Luo does not teach RF transmission to the semiconductor chip. Nevertheless, Zheng, in the similar filed of endeavor, teaches RF transmission to the semiconductor chip [Choi: Fig. 1; Par. 24 teaches of having inter-chip and intra-chip connected to each other over non-hopping bus which can transfer information]. PNG media_image2.png 446 662 media_image2.png Greyscale Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill at the time the invention was made to utilize the teachings of Zheng for using interconnect chips for transmission. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to utilize the teachings of Luo in the Zheng system in order to provide highspeed transfer of information [Zheng: Par. 23]. Regarding claim 2, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches select a first set of weight values from the plurality of sets of weight values as the selected set of weight values in response to the wireless protocol being a first wireless protocol [Luo: Fig. 8; Par. 90 teaches selecting of coefficients based on mode selection]; and select a second set of weight values from the plurality of sets of weight values as the selected set of weight values in response to the wireless protocol being a second wireless protocol [Luo: Par. 88- 94]. Regarding claim 3, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 2. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches wherein the first wireless protocol is for intra-device communications and the second wireless protocol is for inter-device communications [Zheng: Abstract disclosed bot intra and inter chips have different protocol]. Regarding claim 5, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches wherein the semiconductor chip and the at least one processing unit are both included in a single semiconductor device [Zheng: Par. 71]. Regarding claim 6, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 5. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches wherein the semiconductor chip and the at least one processing unit are both included in different semiconductor device [Zheng: Fig. 1 illustrates two peripheral devices with chips]. Regarding claim 7, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches wherein the selected wireless protocol includes a modulation mapping that corresponds to at least one of GFDM, FBMC, UFMC, DFDM, SCMA, NOMA, MUSA, or FTN [Luo: Par. 15 teaches protocol includes GFDM]. Regarding claim 8, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches multiply a portion of the input data with one of the set of weight values to generate a weight multiplication result [Luo: Par. 26 teaches of multiply portion of input data and coefficient data]; and accumulate the weight multiplication result to be further multiplied and accumulated with other portions of the input data and additional weight values of the set of weights values to mix the input data with the set of weight values [Luo: Par. 26 further teaches accumulated with other input data and coefficient data]. Regarding claim 9, Luo teaches An apparatus comprising [Fig. 1]; and non-transitory computer readable media encoded with executable wherein the first semiconductor chip has a configurable baseband processor that is configured to mix input data with a first set of weight values corresponding to a first wireless protocol to be utilized in a wireless [Luo: Fig. 9; Par. 96 teaches obtaining input data associated with RF transmission]; Fig. 8, Par. 93- 94 teaches of receiving and configure to select the plurality of ; when the input data is a first type of data and to mix the input data with a second set of weight values corresponding to a second wireless protocol to be utilized in the wireless, RF transmission to the second semiconductor chip when the input data is a second type of data [Luo: Fig. 8; Par. 87-91 teaches of calculating and selecting plurality of coefficients based on the processing mode selection; Par. 87-91 teaches mixing input data with coefficient data (weight data) to generate output data representative of wireless protocol] PNG media_image1.png 648 426 media_image1.png Greyscale However, Luo does not teach a device having a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip, RF transmission to the second semiconductor chip. Nevertheless, Zheng, in the similar filed of endeavor, a device having a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip, RF transmission to the second semiconductor chip [Choi: Fig. 1; Par. 24 teaches of having inter-chip and intra-chip connected to each other over non-hopping bus which can transfer information]. PNG media_image2.png 446 662 media_image2.png Greyscale Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill at the time the invention was made to utilize the teachings of Zheng for using interconnect chips for transmission. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to utilize the teachings of Luo in the Zheng system in order to provide highspeed transfer of information [Zheng: Par. 23]. Regarding claim 10, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 9. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches a second device having a third semiconductor chip [Zheng: Par. 35 teaches of including local chip and other chips]; wherein the configurable baseband processor of the first semiconductor chip is further configured to mix the input data with a third set of weight values corresponding to a third wireless protocol to be utilized in a wireless, RF transmission [Luo: Par. 93 teaches of mixing input data with coefficients to utilized and implement on chip] to the third semiconductor chip when the input data is a third type of data [Zheng: Par. 38 teaches of multiple chips] Regarding claim 11, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 10. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches wherein the first semiconductor chip includes a processor core and the third semiconductor chip includes a memory controller [Zheng: Par. 79 teaches of multiple cores with memory circuit that can store more modules]. Regarding claim 12, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 19. Luo in view of Zheng further teaches wherein the first semiconductor chip includes a first processor core and the second semiconductor chip includes a second processor core [Zheng: Fig.1] Regarding claim 14 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 7. Regarding claim 15, Luo teaches A method comprising: receiving, at a baseband processor of a first semiconductor chip, input data for a wireless, radio frequency (RF) transmission[Fig. 1]; receive input data for a wireless, radio frequency (RF) transmission [Luo: Fig. 9; Par. 96 teaches obtaining input data associated with RF transmission]; receiving, at the baseband processor, selection of a wireless protocol of a plurality of wireless protocols to be utilized in the wireless, RF transmission to a second semiconductor chip [Luo: Fig. 8, Par. 93- 94 teaches of receiving and configure to select the plurality of ; based on the selected wireless protocol, selecting a set of weight values from a plurality of sets of weight values [Luo: Fig. 8; Par. 87-91 teaches of calculating and selecting plurality of coefficients based on the processing mode selection]; mix the input data using the selected set of weight values and provide output data based on the input data being mixed using set of weight values [Luo: Fig. 8; Par. 90 teaches of mixing inputa data with coefficient data], the output data representative of the wireless, RF transmission being processed according to the selected wireless protocol [Luo: Par. 87-91 teaches mixing input data with coefficient data (weight data) to generate output data representative of wireless protocol] PNG media_image1.png 648 426 media_image1.png Greyscale However, Luo does not teach RF transmission to the semiconductor chip. Nevertheless, Zheng, in the similar filed of endeavor, teaches RF transmission to the semiconductor chip [Choi: Fig. 1; Par. 24 teaches of having inter-chip and intra-chip connected to each other over non-hopping bus which can transfer information]. PNG media_image2.png 446 662 media_image2.png Greyscale Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill at the time the invention was made to utilize the teachings of Zheng for using interconnect chips for transmission. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to utilize the teachings of Luo in the Zheng system in order to provide highspeed transfer of information [Zheng: Par. 23]. Regarding claim 16 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 2. Regarding claim 17 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 3. Regarding claim 19 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 5. Regarding claim 20 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 6. Claims 4, 13, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Luo et al. (US 20200274608 A1), hereinafter “Luo”; and in view of Zheng (US 20150169495 A1), hereinafter “Zheng”; and in further view of Boehm (20220027306), hereinafter “Boehm”. Regarding claim 4, the combined Luo in view of Zheng teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. However, Luo in view of Zheng does not teaches when executed by the at least one processing unit, are further configured to cause the system to cause the wireless, RF transmission using a Terahertz frequency channel. Nevertheless, Boehm teaches when executed by the at least one processing unit, are further configured to cause the system to cause the wireless, RF transmission using a Terahertz frequency channel [Boehm: Par. 56 teaches of using Terahertz for RF transmission]. Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill at the time the invention was made to utilize the teachings of Boehm for including ranges of frequencies. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to utilize the teachings of Boehm in the Luo/Zheng system in order to provide various benefits of communication that is operable in number of frequencies [Boehm: Par. 57]. Regarding claim 13 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 4. Regarding claim 18 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 4. Conclusion The prior art made of record (see attached PTO-892) and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. A shortened statutory period for reply to this action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of the action. An extension of time may be obtained under 37 CFR 1.136(a). However, in no event, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KYAW Z SOE whose telephone number is (571)270-0304. The examiner can normally be reached on 9am-5pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Charles C Jiang can be reached on 5712707191. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /KYAW Z SOE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2412
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Prosecution Timeline

Feb 22, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

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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
89%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+10.0%)
2y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 348 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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