Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/741,175

BIT LINE CONTACT STRUCTURE, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH CONTACT-ISOLATING SPACERS, AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 12, 2024
Priority
May 29, 2024 — divisional of 18/676,829
Examiner
ARMAND, MARC ANTHONY
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
NANYA TECHNOLOGY Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
888 granted / 1064 resolved
+23.5% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+3.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
1087
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
81.0%
+41.0% vs TC avg
§102
6.5%
-33.5% vs TC avg
§112
2.9%
-37.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1064 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Yang US 2023/0157036. Regarding claim 1, Yang shows in FIG. 2, a bit line contact structure, comprising: a bit line contact (DC)[0027] having a rectangular cross-sectional profile in a top-view perspective and comprising two first sides parallel to each other and two second sides parallel to each other and perpendicular to the two first sides [0027]; and two contact-isolating spacers (141)[0028] respectively and correspondingly covering the two first sides of the bit line contact (DC). Regarding claim 2, Yang shows in FIG. 2, a bit line contact structure, wherein a width of the two contact-isolating spacers (141) and a width of the bit line contact are substantially the same [0028]. Regarding claim 3, Yang shows in FIG. 2, a bit line contact structure (DC), wherein the bit line contact comprises tungsten, cobalt, zirconium, tantalum, titanium, aluminum, ruthenium, copper, metal carbides, metal nitrides, transition metal aluminides, or a combination thereof [0026]. Regarding claim 4, Yang shows in FIG. 2, a bit line contact structure, wherein the contact-isolating spacers (141) [0028] comprise silicon nitride. Regarding claim 5, Yang shows in FIG. 2, a bit line contact structure, further comprising two buried insulating layers (SPS)[0032] respectively and correspondingly covering the two contact-isolating spacers (141). Regarding claim 6, Yang shows in FIG. 2, a bit line contact structure, wherein a height of the two contact-isolating spacers (141) is less than a height of the two buried insulating layers (SPS)(23,21)[0032]. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARC-ANTHONY ARMAND whose telephone number is (571)272-5178. The examiner can normally be reached 8am-5pm. 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, Steven B Gauthier can be reached at 571-270-0373. 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. MARC - ANTHONY ARMAND Primary Examiner Art Unit 2813 /MARC-ANTHONY ARMAND/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2813
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 12, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12684869
CONTACT PLACEHOLDER FORMATION FOR DIFFERENT DEVICE TYPES
2y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12677645
SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME
2y 11m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12672533
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE
2y 7m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12666746
SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
2y 8m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12660636
PACKAGING STRUCTURE, PACKAGING SUBSTRATE, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE PACKAGING STRUCTURE
3y 2m to grant Granted Jun 16, 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
84%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+3.9%)
2y 4m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1064 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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