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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 –
(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.
Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Usami (U.S. Pub. 2017/0317221).
Regarding claims 1-6, Usami [Figs.20,22] discloses a light receiving element comprising:
a first semiconductor layer [SL], the first semiconductor layer formed on a substrate or constituting a part of the substrate [1S];
a light absorbing layer [IGL] formed on the first semiconductor layer; and
a second semiconductor layer [NGL] formed on the light absorbing layer; wherein
the first semiconductor layer comprises plural regions having film thicknesses that are different from one another [Thinner center region];
wherein the number of the plural regions in the first semiconductor layer is equal to or greater than 3 [2 side regions and 1 center region];
wherein the first semiconductor layer [SL] is formed on a first dielectric layer [BOX];
further comprising a second dielectric layer [IL] on the second semiconductor layer;
wherein the first dielectric layer [BOX] is a buried oxide film in an SOI substrate, and
the first semiconductor layer [SL] is an Si thin film on the buried oxide film in the SOI substrate [1S];
wherein the light absorbing layer is a layer [IGL] comprising Ge [Para.42].
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The cited prior art is considered analogous art and discloses at least some of the claimed subject matter of the current invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BAC H AU whose telephone number is (571)272-8795. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00AM-6:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Leonard Chang can be reached at 571-270-3691. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BAC H AU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2898
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