CTNF 18/615,718 CTNF 77023 DETAILED ACTION DETAILED ACTION DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claims 25-40 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 . ► With respect to claim 25, Line 3, “the stack of dielectric material layers” lacking antecedent basic renders the claim indefinite. ***Suggestion: “the stack of dielectric material layers” should be changed to “the stack of alternating the first dielectric material layer and the conduct material layers” as consistent claimed language to define scope of claim. Line 5, “the conductive layers” lacks antecedent basis. It is not clear where the conductive layers come from and are located. It is not clear how horizontal openings are formed. Applicant is respectively suggested to clarify and use appropriate claimed language to define scope of claims. ► With respect to claim 32, Scope of claim is unclear since structure of the array of memory cells cannot be defined. 07-35 claims 32 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, as being indefinite in that it fails to point out what is included or excluded by the claim language. This claim is an omnibus type claim. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-12-aia AIA (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-15 AIA Claim s 21-22 and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1) and 102(a)(2 ) as being anticiapted by Komura et al [US 2017/0263682] ► With respect to claim 21, Komura et al (figs 3-4, text [0001]-[0083]) discloses the claimed 3D vertical array of memory cells, comprising: a plurality of 2D arrays of memory cells stacked above a semiconductor substrate (SS, fig 3); word lines (102) associated to each 2D array extending substantially parallel to the substrate; digit lines (BL) in a form of conductive pillars extending substantially perpendicular to the substrate; the memory cells (MC) including a data storage element formed at a topological cross-point between a word line a digit line; and word lines associated to adjacent 2D arrays being separated from each other by a dielectric material (101). ► With respect to claim 22, Komura et al (text [0042]) discloses wherein the dielectric material comprises one of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride. ► With respect to claim 24, a plurality of contacts would be formed in the substrate of Komura et al for device operation . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-21-aia AIA Claim 23 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Komura et al [US 2017/0263682] ► With respect to claim 23, tungsten and molybdenum are known materials for word lines and digit lines. Selection of a known material based on its suitability for its intended use supported a prima facie obviousness determination in Sinclair & Carroll Co. v. Interchemical Corp., 325 U.S. 327, 65 USPQ 297 (1945) "Reading a list and selecting a known compound to meet known requirements is no more ingenious than selecting the last piece to put in the last opening in a jig-saw puzzle." 325 U.S. at 335, 65 USPQ at 301. See also In re Leshin, 227 F.2d 197, 125 USPQ 416 (CCPA 1960) (selection of a known plastic to make a container of a type made of plastics prior to the invention was held to be obvious). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THANHHA S PHAM whose telephone number is (571)272-1696. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, William Partridge can be reached at 571-270-1402. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /THANHHA S PHAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812 Application/Control Number: 18/615,718 Page 2 Art Unit: 2812 Application/Control Number: 18/615,718 Page 3 Art Unit: 2812 Application/Control Number: 18/615,718 Page 4 Art Unit: 2812 Application/Control Number: 18/615,718 Page 5 Art Unit: 2812
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