Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/707,606

SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
May 06, 2024
Priority
Nov 24, 2021 — JP 2021-189924 +1 more
Examiner
RAMALLO, GUSTAVO G
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
95%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 95% — above average
95%
Career Allowance Rate
544 granted / 572 resolved
+35.1% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+2.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
587
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
80.8%
+40.8% vs TC avg
§102
10.8%
-29.2% vs TC avg
§112
4.5%
-35.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 572 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Priority Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed on December 5, 2025. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on May 6, 2024 is being considered by the examiner. Specification 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. The following title is suggested: Semiconductor Light-Emitting Device With Misalignment Prevention 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 1-8 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. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the plurality of lead electrodes" in lines: 4-5, 7, and 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. For purposes of examination this will be interpreted as “the plurality of plate-shaped lead electrodes” Claim 2 recites the limitation "the hollowed portions" in line: 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. For purposes of examination this will be interpreted as “the hollowed portion of the plurality of lead electrodes” Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-8 would be allowed if rewritten to overcome the 112 rejections above. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the closest prior art of record, Matsushita (US 2012/0153335), Cho (US 2010/0078669), fail to disclose (by themselves or in combination) the following limitations in combination with the rest of the claim: Regarding Claim 1 (from which claims 2-8 depend), Matsushita disclose (Figs. 2A-2B) one lead frame 11 and a second lead frame 12, where a portion of 12g is within a crevice of 12c. Matsushita does not disclose: the one lead electrode and the other lead electrode have a nested structure in which the protruding portion of the one lead electrode is fitted into the recessed portion of the other lead electrode… Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Matsushita (US 2012/0153335) discloses (Figs. 2A-2B) fist lead electrode 11 and second lead electrode 12, a resin frame 30 covering an outer portion of 11 and 12. Matsushita does not disclose the frame exposing the plurality of lead electrodes and the one lead electrode and the other lead electrode have a nested structure in which the protruding portion of the one lead electrode is fitted into the recessed portion of the other lead electrode… Cho (US 2010/0078669) discloses (Figs. 1-2) a first lead frame 122 and second lead frame 124, a housing frame 130 which exposes lead frames 122 and 124. Cho does not disclose the one lead electrode and the other lead electrode have a nested structure in which the protruding portion of the one lead electrode is fitted into the recessed portion of the other lead electrode… Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GUSTAVO G RAMALLO whose telephone number is (571)272-9227. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm. 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. /GUSTAVO G RAMALLO/Examiner, Art Unit 2812
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Prosecution Timeline

May 06, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12684771
SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE
3y 5m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12677416
SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE
3y 6m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12677418
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEMORY DEVICE WITH IMPROVED SIGNAL INTERFERENCE
3y 2m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12672327
ELECTRONIC DEVICES COMPRISING PILLARS EXTENDING THROUGH A SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIAL AND ADJACENT TO A SOURCE IMPLANT REGION, AND RELATED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS
3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12672286
MEMORY DEVICE
3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 30, 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
95%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+2.4%)
2y 3m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 572 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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