Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/615,116

SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Mar 25, 2024
Priority
Jun 28, 2023 — RE 10-2023-0083416
Examiner
TRAN, TAN N
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
964 granted / 1111 resolved
+26.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
1153
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
50.4%
+10.4% vs TC avg
§102
33.7%
-6.3% vs TC avg
§112
7.7%
-32.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1111 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
DETAILED ACTION Specification 1. 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. Claim Objections 2. Claims 8 - 10, 18, 19are objected to because of the following informalities: In claims 8, 9, 18, 19, line 1, “in plan view” should be changed to “in a plan view” In claim 10, line 1, “the second sealing member” should be changed to “a second sealing member” because it lacks of antecedent basis. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 3. 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. 4. Claim(s) 1, 3 – 5, 7 – 11, 13 – 15, 17 - 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Wu et al. (20210335726). With regard to claim 1, Wu et al. disclose a semiconductor package (for example, see figs. 1 – 3), comprising: a substrate structure (referred to as “SUB” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) having a first upper surface (a top surface) and a first lower surface (a bottom surface) opposite to the first upper surface (the top surface), the substrate structure (SUB) having at least one bridge chip (a component die 120 functions as bridge chip; for example, paragraphs [0038], [0039]) therein; a semiconductor memory device (514) on the first upper surface of the substrate structure (SUB) and electrically connected to the at least one bridge chip (120); and a semiconductor logic device (512) on the first upper surface of the substrate structure (SUB) and spaced apart from the semiconductor memory device (514), and the semiconductor logic device (512) electrically connected to the bridge chip (120; for example, see paragraph [0054]), wherein the semiconductor memory device (514) includes a redistribution wiring layer (conductive lines 110 and conductive vias 112, together, form the metallization pattern for redistribution wiring layer 90, 92, fig. 1, or fig. 2 as shown below, functions as a redistribution wiring layer) having a second upper surface (referred to as “92A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) and a second lower surface (referred to as “92B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) opposite to the second upper surface, the redistribution wiring layer (90, 92) on the substrate structure (SUB), and the redistribution wiring layer (90, 92) having a plurality of redistribution wirings (110), a plurality of buffer dies (referred to as “514A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) on the second upper surface (the top surface) of the redistribution wiring layer (92) and electrically connected to the at least one bridge chip (120; for example, see paragraph [0054]) through the plurality of redistribution wirings (110), and a plurality of semiconductor chips (referred to as “514B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below; wherein the semiconductor chips 514B are ones of semiconductor chips 514) sequentially stacked on each of the plurality of buffer dies (514B) and electrically connected to the plurality of buffer dies (514A; the chip 120 provide electrical connection between semiconductor chips 514 and the logic die 512. Therefore, a plurality of semiconductor chips 514B electrically connected to the plurality of buffer dies 514A and the redistribution layer 90, 92). PNG media_image1.png 543 779 media_image1.png Greyscale With regard to claim 3, Wu et al. disclose the redistribution wiring layer (90, 92) includes: a plurality of first redistribution pads (conductive redistribution portions 106 functions as first redistribution pads) electrically connected to the plurality of redistribution wirings (110) and exposed from the second upper surface (92A); and a plurality of second redistribution pads (conductive redistribution portions 112 functions as second redistribution pads) electrically connected to the plurality of redistribution wirings (110) and exposed from the second lower surface (92B). With regard to claim 4, Wu et al. disclose the redistribution wiring layer further includes a plurality of solder bumps (bumps 390, fig. 1 functions as solder bumps) on (on the bottom surface) the plurality of second redistribution pads respectively. With regard to claim 5, Wu et al. disclose each of the plurality of buffer dies (514A) includes a plurality of lower buffer pads (186) that are exposed toward the redistribution wiring layer (90, 92), and wherein the plurality of lower buffer pads (186) are bonded to the plurality of first redistribution pads (106) and are electrically connected to the plurality of first redistribution pads (106). With regard to claim 7, Wu et al. disclose the substrate structure includes a first number (for example, a first number is 1) of the at least one bridge chip (120), the semiconductor memory device includes a second number (for example, a second number is 2) of the plurality of buffer dies, and the first number is smaller than the second number. With regard to claim 8, Wu et al. disclose wherein in a plan view (fig. 3), at least a portion of the semiconductor logic device (512) overlaps at least a portion of the at least one bridge chip (120). With regard to claim 9, Wu et al. disclose wherein in a plan view (fig. 3), at least a portion of the semiconductor memory device (514) overlaps at least a portion of the at least one bridge chip (120). With regard to claim 10, Wu et al. disclose the substrate structure includes: a semiconductor substrate (a silicon substrate 300; for example see paragraph [0069]), and the at least one bridge chip (120) is on the semiconductor substrate (300); a plurality of conductive structures (390) on the semiconductor substrate (300) and spaced apart from the at least one bridge chip (120); a sealing member (referred to as “380A1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 1 below; wherein the encapsulant 380 may be formed of a molding compound, epoxy functions as a sealing member) covering (covering the bottom surface) the at least one bridge chip (120) and the plurality of conductive structures (390) on the semiconductor substrate (300); first external connection pads (referred to as “620A1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 1 below) exposed from the sealing member (380A1) and electrically connected to the at least one bridge chip (120); and second external connection pads (referred to as “620A2” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 1 below) exposed from the second sealing member (referred to as “380A2” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 1 below; wherein the encapsulant 380 may be formed of a molding compound, epoxy functions as a sealing member) and electrically connected to the plurality of conductive structures (390). PNG media_image2.png 505 1052 media_image2.png Greyscale With regard to claim 11, Wu et al. disclose a semiconductor package (for example, see figs. 1 – 3), comprising: a substrate structure (referred to as “SUB” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) having a first upper surface (a top surface) and a first lower surface (a bottom surface) opposite to the first upper surface (the top surface), the substrate structure (SUB) having at least one bridge chip (a component die 120 functions as bridge chip; for example, paragraphs [0038], [0039]) therein; a semiconductor logic device (512) on the first upper surface of the substrate structure (SUB) and electrically connected to the at least one bridge chip (120); and a semiconductor memory device (514) on the first upper surface of the substrate structure (SUB) and spaced apart from the semiconductor logic device (512), and he semiconductor memory device (514) electrically connected to the semiconductor logic device (512) through the bridge chip (120; for example, see paragraph [0054]), wherein the semiconductor memory device (514) includes a redistribution wiring layer (conductive lines 110 and conductive vias 112, together, form the metallization pattern for redistribution wiring layer 90, 92, fig. 1, or fig. 2 as shown below, functions as a redistribution wiring layer) having a second upper surface (referred to as “92A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) and a second lower surface (referred to as “92B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) opposite to the second upper surface having a plurality of redistribution wirings (110), a plurality of buffer dies (referred to as “514A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) on the second upper surface (the top surface) of the redistribution wiring layer (92) and electrically connected to the at least one bridge chip (120; for example, see paragraph [0054]) through the plurality of redistribution wirings (110), and a plurality of semiconductor chips (referred to as “514B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below; wherein the semiconductor chips 514B are ones of semiconductor chips 514) sequentially stacked on each of the plurality of buffer dies (514B) and electrically connected to the plurality of buffer dies (514A; the chip 120 provide electrical connection between semiconductor chips 514 and the logic die 512. Therefore, a plurality of semiconductor chips 514B electrically connected to the plurality of buffer dies 514A and the redistribution layer 90, 92). PNG media_image1.png 543 779 media_image1.png Greyscale With regard to claim 13, Wu et al. disclose the redistribution wiring layer (90, 92) includes: a plurality of first redistribution pads (conductive redistribution portions 106 functions as first redistribution pads) electrically connected to the plurality of redistribution wirings (110) and exposed from the second upper surface (92A); and a plurality of second redistribution pads (conductive redistribution portions 112 functions as second redistribution pads) electrically connected to the plurality of redistribution wirings (110) and exposed from the second lower surface (92B). With regard to claim 14, Wu et al. disclose the redistribution wiring layer further includes a plurality of solder bumps (bumps 390, fig. 1 functions as solder bumps) on (on the bottom surface) the plurality of second redistribution pads respectively. With regard to claim 15, Wu et al. disclose each of the plurality of buffer dies (514A) includes a plurality of lower buffer pads (186) that are exposed toward the redistribution wiring layer (90, 92), and wherein the plurality of lower buffer pads (186) are bonded to the plurality of first redistribution pads (106) and are electrically connected to the plurality of first redistribution pads (106). With regard to claim 17, Wu et al. disclose the substrate structure includes a first number (for example, a first number is 1) of the at least one bridge chip (120), the semiconductor memory device includes a second number (for example, a second number is 2) of the plurality of buffer dies, and the first number is smaller than the second number. With regard to claim 18, Wu et al. disclose wherein in a plan view (fig. 3), at least a portion of the semiconductor logic device (512) overlaps at least a portion of the at least one bridge chip (120). With regard to claim 19, Wu et al. disclose wherein in a plan view (fig. 3), at least a portion of the semiconductor memory device (514) overlaps at least a portion of the at least one bridge chip (120). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 5. 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. 6. Claims 2, 12, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wu et al. (20210335726) in view of Youn et al. (8659136). With regard to claims 2, 12, Wu et al. disclose a sealing member (a material 610 inherently functions as a sealing member) that covers the plurality of buffer dies (514A) on the redistribution wiring layer (92). PNG media_image3.png 510 724 media_image3.png Greyscale Wu et al. do not clearly disclose the sealing member that covers the plurality of semiconductor chips. However, Youn et al. disclose the sealing member (a molding 4650 functioning as the sealing member) that covers the plurality of semiconductor chips (4200 – 4500). (for example, see fig. 5C). PNG media_image4.png 514 673 media_image4.png Greyscale Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Wu et al.’s device to have the sealing member that covers the plurality of semiconductor chips as taught by Youn et al. in order to minimize the signal interference for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. With regard to claim 20, Wu et al. disclose a semiconductor package (for example, see figs. 1 – 3), comprising: a substrate structure (referred to as “SUB” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) having a first upper surface (a top surface) and a first lower surface (a bottom surface) opposite to the first upper surface (the top surface), the substrate structure (SUB) having a bridge chip (a component die 120 functions as bridge chip; for example, paragraphs [0038], [0039]) therein; a semiconductor memory device (514) on the first upper surface of the substrate structure (SUB); and a semiconductor logic device (512) on the first upper surface of the substrate structure (SUB) and spaced apart from the semiconductor memory device (514), and the semiconductor logic device (512) electrically connected to the semiconductor memory device (514) through the bridge chip (120; for example, see paragraph [0054]), wherein the semiconductor memory device (514) includes a redistribution wiring layer (conductive lines 110 and conductive vias 112, together, form the metallization pattern for redistribution wiring layer 90, 92, fig. 1, or fig. 2 as shown below, functions as a redistribution wiring layer) having a second upper surface (referred to as “92A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) and a second lower surface (referred to as “92B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) opposite to the second upper surface, the redistribution wiring layer (90, 92) on the substrate structure (SUB), and the redistribution wiring layer (90, 92) having a plurality of redistribution wirings (110), a plurality of buffer dies (referred to as “514A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below) on the second upper surface (the top surface) of the redistribution wiring layer (92) and electrically connected to the bridge chip (120; for example, see paragraph [0054]) through the plurality of redistribution wirings (110), and a plurality of semiconductor chips (referred to as “514B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 2 below; wherein the semiconductor chips 514B are ones of semiconductor chips 514) sequentially stacked on each of the plurality of buffer dies (514B) and electrically connected to the plurality of buffer dies (514A; the chip 120 provide electrical connection between semiconductor chips 514 and the logic die 512. Therefore, a plurality of semiconductor chips 514B electrically connected to the plurality of buffer dies 514A and the redistribution layer 90, 92); a sealing member (a material 610 inherently functions as a sealing member) that covers the plurality of buffer dies (514A) on the redistribution wiring layer (92). PNG media_image1.png 543 779 media_image1.png Greyscale Wu et al. do not clearly disclose the sealing member that covers the plurality of semiconductor chips. However, Youn et al. disclose the sealing member (a molding 4650 functioning as the sealing member) that covers the plurality of semiconductor chips (4200 – 4500). (for example, see fig. 5C). PNG media_image4.png 514 673 media_image4.png Greyscale Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Wu et al.’s device to have the sealing member that covers the plurality of semiconductor chips as taught by Youn et al. in order to minimize the signal interference for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 7. Claims 6, 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wu et al. (20210335726) in view of Leow et al. (12677696). With regard to claims 6, 16, Wu et al. do not clearly disclose each of the plurality of buffer dies and the plurality of semiconductor chips include a high bandwidth memory device. However, Leow et al. disclose each of the plurality of buffer dies and the plurality of semiconductor chips include a high bandwidth memory device. each of the plurality of buffer dies (125d, 125c) and the plurality of semiconductor chips (125a, 125b) include a high bandwidth memory device (for example, column 2, lines 36 – 46, fig. 1A). PNG media_image5.png 478 744 media_image5.png Greyscale Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Wu et al.’s device to have each of the plurality of buffer dies and the plurality of semiconductor chips include a high bandwidth memory device as taught by Leow et al. in order to enhance a high speed efficiency of the semiconductor device for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Conclusion 8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TAN N TRAN whose telephone number is (571) 272 - 1923. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30-5:00PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Davienne Monbleau can be reached on (571) 272-1945. 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. /TAN N TRAN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 25, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12696545
DISPLAY DEVICE USING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT
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SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE COMPRISING CONTACT HOLE REACHING SEMICONDUCTOR LAYER
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Patent 12696701
BRACING STRUCTURE, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH THE SAME, AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME
2y 7m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12690365
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2y 9m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12677447
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3y 10m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
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
87%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+10.0%)
2y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1111 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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