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 Objections
Claims 18-20 objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claim 18: To make the claim more definite Examiner suggests amending as follows (claims 19-20 depend on claim 18):
Claim 18: A storage system comprising:
a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells arranged in NAND strings; and
means for programming the plurality of nonvolatile memory cells by applying a plurality of program pulses at a plurality of corresponding program voltages on control gates of the plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, a first subset of the plurality of program pulses ending in a ramp-down from its corresponding program voltage to a post-pulse voltage and a second subset of the plurality of program pulses each ending in a fast ramp-down from its corresponding program voltage to an offset target voltage that is offset from the post-pulse voltage by a negative kick voltage with the magnitude of the negative kick voltage for a program pulse of the second subset increasing as the corresponding program voltage of the program pulse of the second subset increases from pulse to pulse.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 12-14 and 16-17 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.
Regarding claim 12: The phrase “corresponding program voltage of corresponding program pules” is indefinite since it is not definite as to whether “a plurality of corresponding program voltages” is intended to be an antecedent basis for “corresponding program voltage”, and if “a plurality of program pules” is intended to be antecedent basis for “corresponding program pules” since there is not an article used before each noun. Claims 13, 14, 16, and 17 depend on claim 12.
Examiner suggests amending the claim as follows:
Claim 12: A method of programming a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, comprising:
applying a plurality of program pulses at a plurality of corresponding program voltages on control gates of the plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, each program pulse ending in a ramp-down from its corresponding program voltage;
for each of two or more of the plurality of program pulses, ramping-down from its [[the]] corresponding program voltage to a target voltage that is offset from a post-pulse voltage by a negative kick voltage; and
increasing the magnitude of the negative kick voltage for the two or more of the plurality of program pulses according to at least one corresponding program voltage of the two or more program pulses.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the pending claims have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAY W RADKE whose telephone number is (571)270-1622. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-6 EST.
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JAY W. RADKE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2827
/JAY W. RADKE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2827
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