DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I, Species I in the reply filed on 8/5/26 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that no undue burden on the Examiner to examine the claims of Group II and Species II-IV along with the claims of Group I and Species I. This is not found persuasive because Group II is directed to method and would require a search in a different subclass, and/or would at least employ different search queries.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL. However, applicant is reminded that any claims that are dependent on an allowed claim are subject to rejoinder.
Claims 3-7, and 13-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 8/5/26.
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 11, and 12 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.
In lines 3--7 of claim 11, the applicant states “a first height is defined as a distance
between an upper surface of one of the first photoresist structures and the carrier, a second height is defined as a distance between the first surface and the carrier, a third height is defined as a distance between the second surface and the carrier, and the first height is greater than or equal to the second height.”; however, the applicant does not specifically state which surface of the carrier the distance is being defined from and the Examiner is interpreting the distance from the carrier being any arbitrary area of the carrier. Appropriate clarification and/or correction are required.
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.
In view of the 112 rejection above, claim(s) 1, 2, and 8 thru 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Gardner et al. US 2017/0373046 A1. Gardner discloses (see, for example, FIG. 7) a laser transfer structure, comprising: a carrier 300B; a release layer 20 disposed on the carrier 300B; a first chip 10B disposed on the release layer 20; and a plurality of first photoresist structures 17B disposed on the carrier 300B and surrounding the first chip 10B. In paragraph [0067], Gardner discloses the first photoresist structures 17B include photoresist material.
Regarding claim 2, see, for example, FIG. 7 wherein Gardner discloses one of the first
photoresist structures 17B being in contact with the first chip 10B.
Regarding claim 8, see, for example, FIG. 7 wherein Gardner discloses a second chip 10B disposed on the carrier 300B adjacent to the first chip 10B.
Regarding claim 9, see, for example, FIG. 7 wherein Gardner discloses the first photoresist structures 17B surround the second chip 10B, and one of the first photoresist structures 17B is in contact with the first chip 10B and the second chip 10B.
Regarding claim 10, see, for example, FIG. 7 wherein Gardner discloses a plurality of second photoresist structures 17B disposed on the carrier 300B and surrounding the second chip 10B, wherein the second photoresist structures 17B are separate from the first photoresist structures 17B.
Regarding claim 11, see, for example, FIG. 7 wherein Gardner discloses the first chip 10B has a first surface (i.e. bottom surface of first chip 10B) towards the carrier 300B and a second surface (i.e. top surface of first chip 10B) opposite to the first surface (i.e. bottom surface of first chip 10B), a first height is defined as a distance between an upper surface of one of the first photoresist structures 17B and the carrier 300B, a second height is defined as a distance between the first surface (i.e. bottom surface of the first chip 10B) and the carrier 300B, a third height is defined as a distance between the second surface (i.e. top surface of the first chip 10B) and the carrier 300B, and the first height is greater than or equal to the second height.
Regarding claim 12, see, for example, FIG. 7 wherein Gardner discloses the first height is greater than the second height and less than the third height. Also, see, for example, paragraph [0067] wherein Gardner discloses the first photoresist protection structures 17B can be formed such that the outside surfaces of the devices 10 are not covered by the first photoresist protections structures 17B. Also see the 112 rejection above.
INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTACT THE USPTO
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EUGENE LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1733. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 730-330 PM.
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, JOSHUA BENITEZ can be reached at 571-270-1435. 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.
Eugene Lee
August 26, 2026
/EUGENE LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2815
Prosecution Insights