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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 6/10/2026 has been entered.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 6/10/2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claim 12 is 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
With regards to Claim 12, line 21 recites the limitation “wherein the opening overlapping the pedestal structure in a plan view”. It is unclear as to whether “the opening” refers to “the first layer opening” configured to accommodate the pedestal structure passing therethrough of Claim 12 lines 12-13 or the opening of the second layer of Claim 12 line 17. Furthermore, it is unclear as to whether the intent of the limitation is such that the particular opening is intended to overlap the pedestal structure in a plan view, whether the intent of the limitation is such that each the first layer opening and the opening of the second layer is intended to overlap the pedestal structure in a plan view, whether the intent of the limitation is such that the opening which overlaps the pedestal structure in plan view intends a further limitation, or whether another scope of the claim is intended. For the purpose of examination, the examiner understands this limitation such that the first opening overlaps the pedestal structure in plan view. The applicant is encouraged to clarify in the claim language the intended scope pertaining to the intended opening overlapping the pedestal structure in plan view, fully supported by the original disclosure.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 7, 9-11, and 13-14 are allowed.
Claim 12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
For the examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance, please see the Notice of Allowance mailed 12/16/2025.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIN KRYUKOVA whose telephone number is (571)272-3761. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9a.m. - 4p.m.
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, Jong-Suk (James) Lee can be reached at 5712727044. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ERIN KRYUKOVA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875
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