DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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 without traverse of Device Embodiment 2 (Fig. 2, claims 1-20) in the reply filed on July 27, 2026 is acknowledged.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: Semiconductor Devices Having a Patterned Contact For Optimal Resistance
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
Claims 1-20 are 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.
Claim 1, lines: 3-4 recite the limitation “one or more dummy gate segments disposed on the first surface of the substrate and extending in parallel” It is unclear whether the one or more dummy gate segments are meant to extend in parallel to each other, the surface of the substrate, or another element. For purposes of examination this will be interpreted as “one or more dummy gate segments disposed on the first surface of the substrate and extending in parallel to one another”
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the power supply" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. For purposes of examination this will be interpreted as “a power supply.”
Claim 16, lines: 3-4 recite the limitation “one or more dummy gate segments disposed on the first surface of the substrate and extending in parallel” It is unclear whether the one or more dummy gate segments are meant to extend in parallel to each other, the surface of the substrate, or another element. For purposes of examination this will be interpreted as “one or more dummy gate segments disposed on the first surface of the substrate and extending in parallel to one another”
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowed if rewritten to overcome the 112 rejection above.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the closest prior art of record, Wang (US 2024/0414906), Hiremath (US 2024/02663432), fail to disclose (by themselves or in combination) the following limitations in combination with the rest of the claim:
Regarding Claim 1 (from which claims 2-7 depend), a backside conductive via penetrating from the second surface to the first surface of the substrate, and connected to the first contact; and a first conductive segment and a second conductive segment disposed on and extending perpendicular to the one or more dummy gate segments…
Regarding Claim 8 (from which claims 9-15 depend), wherein the first portion extends perpendicular to the first direction and the second portion extends perpendicular to the first portion.
Regarding Claim 16 (from which claims 17-20 depend), wherein the first contact includes a first portion and a second portion adjacent to the first portion, wherein a width of the second portion is less than a width of the first portion.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Wang (US 2024/0414906) discloses (Fig. 2) a substrate 12, dummy gates 20 on 12, contacts 16 on 12 and across some of 20, a backside contact via BMLI connected to 16. Wang does not disclose a first conductive segment and a second conductive segment disposed on and extending perpendicular to the one or more dummy gate segments.
Hiremath (US 2024/02663432) discloses (Fig. 2A) with dummy gates 212 and 214, source/drain contact 252, first and second conductive segments 230/235 extending perpendicular to dummy gates 21/214, where the contact 252 is connected to 230 and 235. Hiremath does not disclose a backside conductive via penetrating from the second surface to the first surface of the substrate, and connected to the first contact; and the first contact across at least one of the one or more dummy gate segments.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GUSTAVO G RAMALLO whose telephone number is (571)272-9227. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm.
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/GUSTAVO G RAMALLO/Examiner, Art Unit 2812
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