Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/838,670

STORAGE DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 15, 2024
Priority
Feb 25, 2022 — JP 2022-027682 +1 more
Examiner
CHOWDHURY, AFROZA Y
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
67%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
616 granted / 844 resolved
+13.0% vs TC avg
Minimal -6% lift
Without
With
+-6.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
8 currently pending
Career history
856
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
53.2%
+13.2% vs TC avg
§102
21.2%
-18.8% vs TC avg
§112
12.7%
-27.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 844 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 . 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. 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. Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Morris et al. (20200075609). As to claim 1, Morris discloses a storage device comprising: a memory cell comprising a transistor and a capacitor (Fig. 5, [0037], [0072] – [0073]); and a conductor (Fig. 5, [0037], [0072] – [0073]), wherein the transistor comprises a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a first gate electrode (Fig. 5, [0037], [0044], [0072] – [0073]), wherein the capacitor comprises a first electrode, a dielectric over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the dielectric (Fig. 5, [0037], [0044], [0072] – [0073]), wherein a top surface and a side surface of one of the source electrode and the drain electrode of the transistor are in contact with the conductor (Fig. 5, [0037], [0044], [0072] – [0073]), wherein a top surface of the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode of the transistor is in contact with the first electrode of the capacitor (Fig. 5, [0037], [0072] – [0073]), and wherein the dielectric comprises a ferroelectric material (Fig. 5, [0017], [0037], [0151], [0174]). As to claim 2, Morris teaches the storage device according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric of the capacitor comprises hafnium, zirconium, and oxygen ([0021], [0070], [0177]). As to claim 3, Morris teaches the storage device according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric of the capacitor comprises aluminum, scandium, and nitrogen ([0021], [0070], [0177]). As to claim 4, Morris teaches the storage device according to any one of claim 1, wherein the transistor comprises an oxide semiconductor ([0063], [0070]). As to claim 5, Morris teaches the storage device according to claim 1, wherein the transistor further comprises a second gate insulator and a second gate electrode (Fig. 5, [0037]), wherein a top surface of the second gate insulator of the transistor is in contact with part of the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode of the transistor (Fig. 5, [0037]), and wherein the second gate electrode of the transistor overlaps with the first gate electrode of the transistor with the second gate insulator of the transistor therebetween (Fig. 5, [0037], [0073]). As to claim 6, Morris teaches the storage device according to claim 1, comprising: a plurality of layers each comprising the memory cell and the conductor, wherein the plurality of layers are stacked, and wherein the conductors in the plurality of layers overlap with each other (Fig. 5, [0072] – [0073]). As to claims 7-12, it is the apparatus of claims 1-6. Please see claims 1-6 for detail analysis. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AFROZA Y CHOWDHURY whose telephone number is (571)270-1543. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-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, Nitin Patel can be reached at (571)272-7677. 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. /AFROZA CHOWDHURY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2628
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 15, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12743628
ENHANCEMENT OF GENERATIVE IMAGE MODELS BASED ON GAZE
1y 7m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12737051
MAP DISPLAY ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS
2y 2m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12731960
TEMPERATURE-BASED DYNAMIC LASER TUNING TO PROMOTE DISPLAY UNIFORMITY
2y 4m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12730538
EXTERNALLY HANGED FLOATING TOUCH APPARATUS AND FLOATING TOUCH DISPLAY APPARATUS THEREOF
1y 10m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12724458
APPARATUS OF MANUFACTURING SUPPORT PANEL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
1y 7m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
67%
With Interview (-6.4%)
2y 9m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 844 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month