`geste
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`DATE MAILED: 04/24/2024
`
`17/026,864
`
`09/21/2020
`
`Yuki Sugiura
`
`P200880US00
`
`5756
`
`TITLE OF INVENTION: PHOTODETECTOR
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`CONFIRMATIONNO.
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`09/21/2020
`17/026,864
`TITLE OF INVENTION: PHOTODETECTOR
`
`Yuki Sugiura
`
`P200880US00
`
`5756
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`APPLN. TYPE PUBLICATION FEE DUE|PREV. PAID ISSUE FEEENTITY STATUS ISSUE FEE DUE TOTAL FEE(S) DUE DATE DUE
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`2899
`CLINTON, EVAN GARRETT
`1. Change of correspondenceaddressor indication of "Fee Address” (37
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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
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`APPLICATION NO.
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`FILING DATE
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`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
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`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
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`CONFIRMATIONNO.
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`17/026,864
`
`09/21/2020
`
`Yuki Sugiura
`
`P200880US00
`
`5756
`
`38834
`
`7590
`
`04/24/2024
`
`WHDA, LLP
`8500 LEESBURG PIKE
`SUITE 150
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`TYSONS, VA 22182
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`CLINTON, EVAN GARRETT
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`2899
`DATE MAILED: 04/24/2024
`
`Determination of Patent Term Adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154 (b)
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`

`

`.
`
`.
`
`17/026 ,864
`
`Evan G Clinton
`
`Sugiura et al.
`
`2899
`
`Yes
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address--
`All claims being allowable, PROSECUTION ON THE MERITS IS (OR REMAINS) CLOSED in this application. If not included
`herewith (or previously mailed), a Notice of Allowance (PTOL-85) or other appropriate communication will be mailed in due course. THIS
`NOTICE OF ALLOWABILITY IS NOT A GRANTOF PATENTRIGHTS.This application is subject to withdrawal from issue at the initiative
`of the Office or upon petition by the applicant. See 37 CFR 1.313 and MPEP 1308.
`1.{¥] This communication is responsive to RCE riled 4/8/2024.
`(J A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`.
`
`2._) Anelection was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`restriction requirement and election have been incorporatedinto this action.
`
`; the
`
`3.{¥) The allowed claim(s) is/are 1-14 . As a result of the allowed claim(s), you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution
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`* Certified copies not received:
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`noted below.Failure to timely comply will result in ABANDONMENT ofthis application.
`THIS THREE-MONTH PERIOD IS NOT EXTENDABLE.
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`5.) CORRECTED DRAWINGS (as "replacement sheets") must be submitted.
`(} including changes required by the attached Examiner's Amendment / Commentor in the Office action of
`Paper No./Mail Date
`.
`Identifying indicia such as the application number (see 37 CFR 1.84(c)) should be written on the drawingsin the front (not the back) of each
`sheet. Replacement sheet(s) should be labeled as such in the header according to 37 CFR 1.121(d).
`
`6.LJ DEPOSIT OFand/or INFORMATION aboutthe deposit of BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL must be submitted. Note the
`attached Examiner's comment regarding REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEPOSIT OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL.
`
`4[¥] Acknowledgmentis made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c) () Noneofthe:
`a) MAI
`b) (] Some*
`1.
`Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2. (J Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3. (J Copiesof the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this national stage application from the
`International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2899
`
`Attachment(s)
`1.1 Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`2.C Information Disclosure Statements (PTO/SB/08),
`Paper No./Mail Date
`.
`3.) Examiner's Comment Regarding Requirementfor Deposit
`of Biological Material
`4.C] Interview Summary (PTO-413),
`Paper No./Mail Date.
`/EVAN G CLINTON/
`
`5. (2 Examiner's Amendment/Comment
`6.
`Examiner's Statement of Reasons for Allowance
`
`7. CZ Other
`
`.
`
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-37 (Rev. 08-13)
`
`Notice of Allowability
`
`.
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20240416
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/026,864
`Art Unit: 2899
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA 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 final rejection. 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, the
`
`finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's
`
`submission filed on 4/8/2024 has been entered.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`The rejections under 35 U.S.C 102 are withdrawnin light of the amendments made in the reply
`
`of 4/8/2024.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The rejections under 35 U.S.C 103 are withdrawnin light of the amendments made in the reply
`
`of 4/8/2024.
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claims 1-14 are allowed.
`
`The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/026,864
`Art Unit: 2899
`
`Page 3
`
`Regarding claims 1, 5-8, and 10-12, the prior art, alone or in combination,fails to teach or
`
`suggest the first semiconductor layer includes a second junction portion having a higher impurity
`
`concentration than a remaining portion of the first semiconductor layer, the second junction portion
`
`being joined to the first junction portion; and the second semiconductor layer is in contact with both the
`
`first junction portion and the second junction portion.
`
`Regarding claims 2-4, the prior art, alone or in combination, fails to teach or suggest an isolation
`
`region ofthe first conductivity type that is located between the well and the first semiconductor layer.
`
`Regarding claim 9, the prior art, alone or in combination,fails to teach or suggest wherein the
`
`outer portion and the inner portion are electrically connected by a wire.
`
`Regarding claims 13-14, the prior art, alone or in combination,fails to teach or suggest a
`
`photoelectric converter that is located in a third area inward of the first area; and an isolation region of
`
`the first conductivity type that is located between the first area and the third area.
`
`Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment
`
`of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompanythe issue fee. Such
`
`submissions should beclearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to Evan G Clinton whose telephone number is (571)270-0525. The examiner can
`
`normally be reached Monday-Friday at 8:30am to 5:30pm.
`
`Examiner interviewsare 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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/026,864
`Art Unit: 2899
`
`Page 4
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
`
`Zandra Smith can be reached on 571-272-2429. 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
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information aboutfiling in DOCX format. For additional
`
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`assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or
`
`571-272-1000.
`
`/EVAN G CLINTON/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2899
`
`