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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed on 8/24/2026 has been considered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 8/24/2026 have been considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding the rejected claim 16 under 35 USC 102(a)(1), the applicant does not argue and amend. Therefore, the examiner maintains the rejection.
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.
Claim(s) 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nam (US 2021/0159178).
Regarding claim 16, Nam discloses, in at least figure 1 and related text, a semiconductor packaging structure, comprising:
a first semiconductor chip (C0, [18], [21]); wherein first-contact-pads (540, [20]) are formed on a surface of the first semiconductor chip (C0, [18], [21]);
a dielectric layer (150, [48]) located on the first semiconductor chip (C0, [18], [21]); wherein second-contact-pads (160, [18]) are formed within the dielectric layer (150, [48]);
a second semiconductor chip stacking structure (C1/C2/C3, [18]) located on the dielectric layer (150, [48]); wherein the second semiconductor chip stacking structure (C1/C2/C3, [18]) comprises a plurality of layers (110/210/210/310, [32], [42], [44]) of second semiconductor chips (C1/C2/C3, [18]) stacked in sequence; and third-contact-pads (120, [32]) are formed on a surface of a first layer (110, [32]) of the plurality of layers (110/210/210/310, [32], [42], [44]) of the second semiconductor chips (C1/C2/C3, [18]); and
the first semiconductor chip (C0, [18], [21]) and the first layer (110, [32]) of the plurality of layers (110/210/210/310, [32], [42], [44]) of the second semiconductor chips (C1/C2/C3, [18]) are bonded to each other in an one-to-one correspondence manner through the first-contact-pads (540, [20]), the second-contact-pads (160, [18]) and the third-contact-pads (120, [32]); and, wherein,
a width of each of the second-contact-pads (160, [18]) is inconsistent with a width of each of corresponding first-contact-pads (540, [20]) and a width of each of corresponding third-contact-pads (120, [32]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4, 6, 8, and 17-19 are allowed because the prior art of record neither anticipates nor render obvious the limitations of the base claims 1 that recite "widths of corresponding fourth-contact-pads between adjacent two layers of the multiple layers of the plurality of layers of the second semiconductor chips are inconsistent" in combination with other elements of the base claims 1.
Claim 5 is allowed because the prior art of record neither anticipates nor render obvious the limitations of the base claims 5 that recite " the width of the first second-contact-pad is larger than a width of the first first-contact- pad or the first third-contact-pad corresponded thereto; and the width of the second second-contact-pad is smaller than a width of the second first-contact-pad or the second third-contact- pad corresponded thereto" in combination with other elements of the base claims 5.
Claims 9-12, 14-15, and 20 are allowed because the prior art of record neither anticipates nor render obvious the limitations of the base claims 9 that recite "widths of corresponding fourth-contact-pads between adjacent two layers of the multiple layers of the plurality of layers of the second semiconductor chips are inconsistent" in combination with other elements of the base claims 9.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TONG-HO KIM whose telephone number is (571)270-0276. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Friday; 8:30 AM to 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, Lynne Gurley can be reached at 571-272-1670. 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.
/TONG-HO KIM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2811
Prosecution Insights