Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/968,991

OPERATING A CHALCOGENIDE MEMORY WITH VERTICAL WORD AND VERTICAL WORD SWITCHING ELEMENTS

Non-Final OA

Filed

Dec 04, 2024

Priority

Feb 15, 2022 — continuation of 12/176,042

Examiner

BRASWELL, DONALD H.B.

Art Unit

2825

Tech Center

2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems

Assignee

Micron Technology Inc.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +11.8% interview lift. Interview lift (+11.8%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 435 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

BRASWELL, DONALD H.B. View full profile →

Grants 82% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

357 granted / 435 resolved

+14.1% vs TC avg

Moderate +12% lift

Without

With

+11.8%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 9m

Avg Prosecution

31 currently pending

Career history

461

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.0%

-39.0% vs TC avg

§103

78.3%

+38.3% vs TC avg

§102

8.9%

-31.1% vs TC avg

§112

3.5%

-36.5% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 435 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 04, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 30, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/384,681

Patent 12682965

FLASH MEMORY REDUCING PROGRAM RISING TIME AND PROGRAM METHOD THEREOF

2y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/657,248

Patent 12682958

MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD OF ERASURE OPERATIONS USING GIDL AND NEGATIVE WORDLINE VOLTAGES

2y 2m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/658,997

Patent 12682954

PRECHARGING METHOD AND PROGRAMMING METHOD FOR SELECTED AND UNSELECTED SUB-BLOCKS OF 3D MEMORY STRINGS IN A DEVICE

2y 2m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/425,450

Patent 12676199

MEMORY DEVICE PERFORMING LEAKAGE DETECTION OPERATION

2y 5m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/749,384

Patent 12676195

SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE

2y 0m to grant Granted Jul 07, 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.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

82%

Grant Probability

94%

With Interview (+11.8%)

2y 9m (~1y 1m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 435 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.