Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/798,747

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MOUNTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 08, 2024
Priority
Nov 09, 2023 — JP 2023-191349
Examiner
CHAMBLISS, ALONZO
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
66%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
1086 granted / 1206 resolved
+30.0% vs TC avg
Minimal -24% lift
Without
With
+-24.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
1213
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.8%
-37.2% vs TC avg
§103
35.8%
-4.2% vs TC avg
§102
31.8%
-8.2% vs TC avg
§112
15.2%
-24.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1206 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 based on an application filed in Japan on 9/11/2023. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the Japanese application as required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 8/8/2024 was filed before the mailing date of the Non-final rejection on 9/19/2026. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Drawings The formal drawings filed on 8/8/2024 have been approved 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: “HEAT DISSIPATION MEMBER ATTACHED TO SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE ”. 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. Claims 1, 2, and 7-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by Hitachi (JP 1-270336). With respect to Claim 1, Hitachi teaches a semiconductor element (i.e. SOP IC) and a sealing resin 66 that has a first main surface, a second main surface opposed to the first main surface, a first side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface. A second side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface and opposed to the first side surface. A third side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface and located between the first side surface and the second side surface. A fourth side surface connecting the first main surface and the second main surface and opposed to the third side surface, and seals the semiconductor element. A plurality of terminals 7, 45, 47 electrically connected to the semiconductor element, protruding from the first side surface and the second side surface of the sealing resin 66. Extending to a height position of the second main surface, wherein a heat dissipation member 18, 58 is disposed on the first main surface of the sealing resin 66. A control board 81 to which the plurality of terminals 45, 47 are electrically connected is disposed on the second main surface of the sealing resin. The semiconductor device further comprises a plurality of portions 60 to be joined that protrude from the third side surface and the fourth side surface of the sealing resin, are joined to the control board, and are not electrically (i.e. use to support the semiconductor package) connected to the semiconductor element (see specification, page 412; Figs. 1a, 2-14, 17, 20, and 21). With respect to Claim 2, Hitachi teaches the plurality of terminals 7, 45, 47 extend in directions away from the sealing resin at the height position of the second main surface of the sealing resin (see Figs. 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, and 21). With respect to Claim 4, Hitachi teaches the plurality of portions 60 to be joined extend to the height position of the second main surface of the sealing resin 65 (see Figs. 11, 12, 14, and 19-21). With respect to Claim 7, Hitachi teaches materials of the plurality of terminals 7, 45, 47 and the plurality of portions to be joined are same, but the plurality of portions 60 to be joined electrically floating (see 13, 14, and 17). With respect to Claim 8, Hitachi teaches portions of the plurality of terminals 7, 45, 47 protruding from the sealing resin 66 are located at a height position between the first main surface and the second main surface of the sealing resin (see Figs. 1, 10, 20, and 21). With respect to Claim 8, Hitachi teaches on the control board 81 and the plurality of portions 60 to be joined are joined to the control board simultaneously with the plurality of terminals by reflow soldering (see Figs. 20 and 21). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 3, 5, 6, and 10-12 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowance subject matter: none of the prior art of record teaches or suggest the combination of a hole for screwing is provided in each of the plurality of portions to be joined. The plurality of portions to be joined are screwed to the control board to join the portions to be joined and the control board to each other in claim 3. A pin to be inserted into a hole provided in the control board is provided at a distal end portion of each of the plurality of portions to be joined in claim 5. Conclusion 9. Any inquiry concerning the communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Alonzo Chambliss whose telephone number is (571) 272-1927. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Jacob Y. Choi can be reached on (469) 295-9060. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PMR or Public PMR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PMR only. For more information about the PMR system see hittp://pair-dkect.usptol gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PMR system contact the Electronic Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). AC/September 19, 2026 /Alonzo Chambliss/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2897
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 08, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
90%
Grant Probability
66%
With Interview (-24.2%)
2y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1206 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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