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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the feature of “one or more ground vias” as recited in claim 15 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 abstract of the disclosure is objected to because legal phraseology such as “comprises” is used. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
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.
Claims 1-20 are 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In claim 1, it is unclear how “at least one component” is interconnected and associated with “an electrically insulating layer”, “a first conductive trace”, “a first contact”, “a second contact” and “a measuring unit”?
In claim 4, it is unclear how “a capacitance formed between the first conductive trace and the conductive region” is interconnected and associated with “a capacitor” formed by the first conductive trace, the electrically insulating layer, and the conductive region”?
In claim 15, what are considered as “first trace contact part”,” a second trace contact part”.” one or more first vias”,” one or more second vias” and “one or more ground vias”? Are they shown in any of drawings?
In claim 20, it is unclear how “at least one component” is interconnected and associated with “an electrically insulating layer”, “a first conductive trace”, “a first contact”, “a second contact” and “a measuring unit”?
The dependent claims not specifically addressed share the same indefiniteness as they depend from rejected base claims.
Conclusion
Searches were performed and no prior art was found to meet the limitations of the instant claims 1-20. However, these claims are not allowed due to their deficiencies as mentioned in the current office action.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
VECHES (PG-Pub# 20150048373) disclose method and layout for detecting die cracks.
Sasaki (Pat# 8,310,966) discloses semiconductor apparatus.
Park (Pat# 11,289,385) disclose Semiconductor Die And A Method For Detecting An Edge Crack In A Semiconductor Die.
Sanchez et al (PG-Pub# 20150115266) disclose DIE CRACK DETECTOR WITH INTEGRATED ONE-TIME PROGRAMMABLE ELEMENT.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VINH P NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1964. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6:00am-4:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Phan Huy can be reached on 571-272-7924. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VINH P NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
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