Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/647,489

TREATMENT SOLUTION FOR SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATES

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Apr 26, 2024
Priority
Oct 29, 2021 — JP 2021-177094 +1 more
Examiner
DELCOTTO, GREGORY R
Art Unit
1761
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Fujifilm Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
54%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 54% of resolved cases
54%
Career Allowance Rate
657 granted / 1221 resolved
-11.2% vs TC avg
Strong +76% interview lift
Without
With
+75.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
47 currently pending
Career history
1289
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
76.6%
+36.6% vs TC avg
§102
6.3%
-33.7% vs TC avg
§112
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1221 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
CTNF 18/647,489 CTNF 72268 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. DETAILED ACTION Claims 1-8 are pending. Priority 02-26 AIA Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Claim Objections 07-29-01 AIA Claim s 1-8 are objected to because of the following informalities: With respect to instant claims 1-3, it is suggested that Applicant delete “includes” and insert “comprises”. Note that, instant claims 4-8 have also been objected to their dependency on claim1 . Appropriate correction is required. 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. 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. 07-23-aia AIA The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. 07-20-02-aia AIA This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. 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. 07-23-aia AIA The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. 07-20-02-aia AIA This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. 07-21-aia AIA Claim s 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takahashi et al (US 2011/0076852) . With respect to independent, instant clam 1, Takahashi et al teach a cleaning composition for removing plasma etching residue and/or ashing residue formed above a semiconductor substrate is provided that includes (component a) water, (component b) a hydroxylamine and/or a salt thereof, (component c) a basic organic compound, and (component d) an organic acid and has a pH of 7 to 9. There are also provided a cleaning process and a process for producing semiconductor device employing the cleaning composition. See Abstract. The organic amine used as the basic organic compound of the cleaning composition of the present invention includes an alkanolamine such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diethylene glycolamine, etc. The content of the basic organic compound is preferably about 0.01 to about 20.0 wt % relative to the total weight of the cleaning composition of the present invention, and more preferably 1.0 to 10.0 wt %. See paras. 52-55. The cleaning composition of the present invention comprises at least one organic acid, and the organic acid is preferably a monofunctional, difunctional, trifunctional, or tetrafunctional organic acid. An organic acid is useful as a corrosion inhibitor for a metal. Among organic acids, a carboxylic acid is preferable since it prevents effectively metal corrosion of aluminum, copper, and an alloy thereof, and a hydroxycarboxylic acid, which has a hydroxy group, is more preferable since it is particularly effective for preventing metal corrosion. Carboxylic acids have the effect of chelating these metals. Preferred examples of the carboxylic acid include a monocarboxylic acid and a polycarboxylic acid. Examples of the carboxylic acid include, but are not limited to citric acid, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, etc. Furthermore, with regard to these organic acids, one type thereof on its own or two or more types as a mixture may be used, but from the viewpoint of preventing effectively metal corrosion, it is preferable to use two or more types thereof in combination. The organic acid is added preferably at about 0.01 to about 20.0 wt % relative to the total weight of the cleaning composition of the present invention, more preferably about 0.05 to about 20.0 wt %, and yet more preferably 0.1 to 10.0 wt %. See paras. 56-60. The cleaning composition of the present invention may comprise an amino group-containing carboxylic acid. An amino group-containing carboxylic acid is preferable in terms of preventing metal corrosion efficiently. Examples of the amino group-containing carboxylic acid include amino acids such as glycine, alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, arginine, glutamine, glutamic acid, histidine, serine, cysteine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. When the cleaning composition of the present invention contains an amino group-containing carboxylic acid, the amount thereof added may be selected as appropriate, but it is preferably about 0.01 to about 5.0 wt % relative to the total weight of the cleaning composition of the present invention, and more preferably 0.01 to 3 wt %. See paras. 65-71. Takahashi et al do not teach, with sufficient specificity, a composition containing an amphoteric compound, an antimicrobial agent, an amino alcohol, and the other requisite components of the composition in the specific amounts as recited by independent, instant claim 1 and the respective dependent claims. Nonetheless it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to formulate a composition containing an amphoteric compound, an antimicrobial agent, an amino alcohol, and the other requisite components of the composition in the specific amounts as recited by independent, instant claim 1 and the respective dependent claims, with a reasonable expectation of success and similar results with respect to other disclosed components, because the broad teachings of Takahashi et al suggest a composition containing an amphoteric compound, an antimicrobial agent, an amino alcohol, and the other requisite components of the composition in the specific amounts as recited by independent, instant claim 1 and the respective dependent claims . Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Remaining references cited but not relied upon are considered to be cumulative to or less pertinent than those relied upon or discussed above . Applicant is reminded that any evidence to be presented in accordance with 37 CFR 1.131 or 1.132 should be submitted before final rejection in order to be considered timely. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GREGORY R DEL COTTO whose telephone number is (571)272-1312. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 8:30am-6:00pm, EST. 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, Angela Brown-Pettigrew can be reached at (571) 272-2817. 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. /GREGORY R DELCOTTO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1761 /G.R.D/May 28, 2026 Application/Control Number: 18/647,489 Page 2 Art Unit: 1761 Application/Control Number: 18/647,489 Page 3 Art Unit: 1761 Application/Control Number: 18/647,489 Page 4 Art Unit: 1761 Application/Control Number: 18/647,489 Page 5 Art Unit: 1761 Application/Control Number: 18/647,489 Page 6 Art Unit: 1761 Application/Control Number: 18/647,489 Page 7 Art Unit: 1761 Application/Control Number: 18/647,489 Page 8 Art Unit: 1761
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 26, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12680052
METAL COMPLEXES-CONTAINING DISHWASHING DETERGENTS
3y 2m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12674116
CLEANING COMPOSITION, CLEANING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENT
2y 8m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12661895
CLEANING LIQUID, METHOD OF CLEANING NOZZLE SURFACE, AND RECORDING DEVICE
3y 7m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12653764
BIODEGRADABLE MICROCAPSULES
2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12644075
FABRIC TREATMENT COMPOSITIONS WITH ANTIOXIDANT MULTIMERS
3y 1m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
54%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+75.7%)
2y 10m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1221 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month