USPTO Examiner MENZ LAURA MARY - Art Unit 2813

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18763686SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGEJuly 2024April 2025Allow1010NoNo
18679002SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAMEMay 2024January 2025Allow800NoNo
18669577SEMICONDUCTOR DIE INCLUDING GUARD RING STRUCTURE AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL DEVICE STRUCTURE INCLUDING THE SAMEMay 2024June 2025Allow1311NoNo
18663878DUMMY STACKED STRUCTURES SURROUNDING TSVS AND METHOD FORMING THE SAMEMay 2024June 2025Allow1411NoNo
18654794SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTUREMay 2024May 2025Allow1201NoNo
18635399SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE STRUCTUREApril 2024November 2024Allow700NoNo
18633188DISPLAY DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DISPLAY DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUSApril 2024January 2025Allow900NoNo
18616221SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAMEMarch 2024June 2025Allow1501NoNo
18616427Fan-Out Package Having a Main Die and a Dummy DieMarch 2024October 2024Allow600NoNo
18615573SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING GATE CONTACT STRUCTURE FORMED FROM GATE STRUCTUREMarch 2024November 2024Allow701NoNo
18598870SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEMarch 2024September 2024Allow700NoNo
18439652ULTRATHIN SOLID STATE DIES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAMEFebruary 2024September 2024Allow700NoNo
18436812SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING GATE ISOLATION LAYERFebruary 2024August 2024Allow700NoNo
18402426SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE ASSEMBLY WITH SACRIFICIAL PILLARS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING SACRIFICIAL PILLARSJanuary 2024August 2024Allow700NoNo
18543111INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICES INCLUDING DISCHARGING PATH AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAMEDecember 2023May 2024Allow501NoNo
18519742DISPLAY APPARATUSNovember 2023August 2024Allow900NoNo
18516971SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGES AND METHODS FOR FORMING THE SAMENovember 2023July 2024Allow800NoNo
18506186MULTI-WAFER CAPPING LAYER FOR METAL ARCING PROTECTIONNovember 2023September 2024Allow1000NoNo
18506177EMBEDDED FERROELECTRIC MEMORY CELLNovember 2023March 2025Allow1601NoNo
18488561Selectable Monolithic or External Scalable Die-to-Die Interconnection System MethodologyOctober 2023May 2024Allow700NoNo
18474061MEMORY DEVICES INCLUDING STAIRCASE STRUCTURES, AND RELATED 3D NAND FLASH MEMORY DEVICESSeptember 2023May 2024Allow800NoNo
18455419Shielded Semiconductor Package with Open Terminal and Methods of MakingAugust 2023May 2025Allow2121YesNo
18446524SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEAugust 2023April 2024Allow900NoNo
18230284SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGES AND METHODS FOR FORMING THE SAMEAugust 2023December 2024Allow1601NoNo
18229679SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAMEAugust 2023March 2025Allow2011NoNo
18229627SEMICONDUCTOR DIE INCLUDING FUSE STRUCTURE AND METHODS FOR FORMING THE SAMEAugust 2023June 2024Allow1001NoNo
18229612THREE-DIMENSIONAL DEVICE STRUCTURE INCLUDING SUBSTRATE-EMBEDDED INTEGRATED PASSIVE DEVICE AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAMEAugust 2023December 2024Allow1611NoNo
18360427SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAMEJuly 2023February 2025Allow1901NoNo
18360344MULTI-LAYER FILM DEVICE AND METHODJuly 2023July 2024Allow1200NoNo
18360166Semiconductor Devices Having Gate Dielectric Layers of Varying Thicknesses and Methods of Forming the SameJuly 2023April 2024Allow800NoNo
18359578Stacked Semiconductor Device and MethodJuly 2023April 2024Allow800NoNo
18225134SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAMEJuly 2023April 2024Allow800NoNo
18354068SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING THROUGH VIA STRUCTUREJuly 2023March 2024Allow800NoNo
18352273ELECTRONIC DEVICEJuly 2023February 2025Allow1911NoNo
18216040MICRO THROUGH-SILICON VIA FOR TRANSISTOR DENSITY SCALINGJune 2023June 2024Allow1110NoNo
18343383MICROELECTRONIC DEVICES AND RELATED MEMORY DEVICESJune 2023August 2024Allow1411NoNo
18342515LATERALLY UNCONFINED STRUCTUREJune 2023February 2024Allow800NoNo
18338596SEMICONDUCTOR DIE INCLUDING GUARD RING STRUCTURE AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL DEVICE STRUCTURE INCLUDING THE SAMEJune 2023February 2024Allow800NoNo
18335175BACKSIDE CONNECTION STRUCTURES FOR NANOSTRUCTURES AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAMEJune 2023May 2024Allow1110NoNo
18335816SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAMEJune 2023February 2024Allow800NoNo
18196744DISPLAY DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DISPLAY DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUSMay 2023January 2024Allow800NoNo
18311834LIGHT EMITTING DIODES WITH ENHANCED THERMAL SINKING AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF OPERATIONMay 2023January 2024Allow900NoNo
18304261SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH SOURCE RESISTORApril 2023November 2024Allow1901NoNo
18302228CHIP STRUCTURE WITH CONDUCTIVE PILLAR AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAMEApril 2023May 2025Allow2511NoNo
18302545Processes for Reducing Leakage and Improving AdhesionApril 2023February 2024Allow1000NoNo
18133931NANOSHEET CHANNEL-TO-SOURCE AND DRAIN ISOLATIONApril 2023July 2024Allow1610NoNo
18132801MICRO THROUGH-SILICON VIA FOR TRANSISTOR DENSITY SCALINGApril 2023May 2024Allow1310NoNo
18126996SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEMarch 2023April 2024Allow1310NoNo
18187628SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEMarch 2023June 2025Allow2700NoNo
18114419NON-VOLATILE MEMORY STRUCTURE WITH POSITIONED DOPINGFebruary 2023December 2023Allow1000NoNo
18173837PASSIVATION LAYER FOR A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAMEFebruary 2023June 2025Allow2831YesNo
18042534TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TEMPERATURE SENSOR OF THIS KINDFebruary 2023June 2025Allow2700YesNo
18164642SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAMEFebruary 2023December 2023Allow1000NoNo
18163486SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND VEHICLEFebruary 2023May 2025Allow2700NoNo
18099290SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE INCLUDING A CHIP-SUBSTRATE COMPOSITE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEJanuary 2023May 2025Allow2800NoNo
18148810RESISTOR WITH DOPED REGIONS AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING THE SAMEDecember 2022November 2023Allow1000NoNo
18077495SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING TWO OR MORE STACKED SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURESDecember 2022May 2025Allow2900NoNo
18059646SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND CIRCUIT DEVICENovember 2022May 2025Allow2910YesNo
17999954OPTICAL SENSOR PACKAGE STRUCTURE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICENovember 2022April 2025Allow2900YesNo
18057885SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURENovember 2022February 2024Allow1510NoNo
17977875Type III-V Semiconductor Substrate with Monolithically Integrated CapacitorOctober 2022October 2023Allow1200NoNo
17977031SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING GATE ISOLATION LAYEROctober 2022November 2023Allow1200NoNo
17974894SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEOctober 2022January 2025Allow2700NoNo
17972331VOLUMETRIC BUDGET BASED IRRIGATION CONTROLOctober 2022April 2024Allow1810NoNo
17920554SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEOctober 2022April 2025Allow3000YesNo
17970111SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAMEOctober 2022April 2025Allow3001NoNo
18047146SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEOctober 2022April 2025Allow2900NoNo
18045331ULTRATHIN SOLID STATE DIES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAMEOctober 2022September 2023Allow1100NoNo
17952080SURFACE FINISHES WITH LOW RBTV FOR FINE AND MIXED BUMP PITCH ARCHITECTURESSeptember 2022November 2023Allow1400NoNo
17944793INTEGRATED CIRCUIT INCLUDING STANDARD CELLS AND AT LEAST ONE CAPACITIVE FILLING STRUCTURESeptember 2022March 2025Allow3000NoNo
17901189Thermal Extraction of Single Layer Transfer Integrated CircuitsSeptember 2022June 2024Allow2201NoNo
17897065SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND SEMICONDUCTOR STORAGE DEVICEAugust 2022March 2025Allow3000NoNo
17895223SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGEAugust 2022March 2025Allow3101NoNo
17821042ISOLATION STRUCTURES IN SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICESAugust 2022May 2025Allow3301YesNo
17904361GRAPHENE INTEGRATIONAugust 2022March 2025Allow3100NoNo
17820020BACK END OF LINE STRUCTURE FOR IMPROVED CURRENT DENSITY IN HR DEVICESAugust 2022March 2025Allow3101NoNo
17819245SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH SHORT-RESISTANT CAPACITOR PLATEAugust 2022June 2025Allow3421NoNo
17818537MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURE AND SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTUREAugust 2022February 2025Allow3000NoNo
17880787MULTI-WAFER CAPPING LAYER FOR METAL ARCING PROTECTIONAugust 2022August 2023Allow1200NoNo
17874945SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAMEJuly 2022February 2025Allow3100NoNo
17872255POWER SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE ARRANGEMENTJuly 2022January 2024Allow1710NoNo
17868104P-GaN HIGH-ELECTRON-MOBILITY TRANSISTORJuly 2022December 2024Allow2900NoNo
17866946EMBEDDED FERROELECTRIC MEMORY CELLJuly 2022August 2023Allow1300NoNo
17866782SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEJuly 2022May 2023Allow1000NoNo
17858150PATTERN FORMATION METHOD AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE FABRICATION METHOD USING THE SAMEJuly 2022May 2025Allow3511YesNo
17849995Multi-Layer Film Device and MethodJune 2022May 2023Allow1100NoNo
17809224SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE ASSEMBLY WITH SACRIFICIAL PILLARS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING SACRIFICIAL PILLARSJune 2022August 2023Allow1400NoNo
17846319METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MEMORY DEVICE USING SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENTJune 2022September 2024Allow2700NoNo
17845871METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEJune 2022January 2025Allow3111NoNo
17844961SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAMEJune 2022April 2025Allow3411NoNo
17841213SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAMEJune 2022June 2023Allow1200NoNo
17839828CONDUCTIVE FEATURE WITH NON-UNIFORM CRITICAL DIMENSION AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAMEJune 2022January 2024Allow1900NoNo
17806730METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICEJune 2022January 2025Allow3100NoNo
17806390THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEMORY DEVICE INCLUDING CONTACT VIA STRUCTURES FOR MULTI-LEVEL STEPPED SURFACES AND METHODS FOR FORMING THE SAMEJune 2022September 2024Allow2700NoNo
17836612SPLIT VALVE AIR CURTAINJune 2022May 2025Allow3501YesNo
17834204SIDEWALL SPACER STRUCTURE ENCLOSING CONDUCTIVE WIRE SIDEWALLS TO INCREASE RELIABILITYJune 2022September 2023Allow1500NoNo
17833063APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BGA COPLANARITY AND WARPAGE CONTROLJune 2022January 2025Allow3110YesNo
17825360SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THEREOFMay 2022March 2025Allow3301NoNo
17751953METHOD FOR FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH PROTECTION LAYERSMay 2022May 2023Allow1200NoNo
17751988METHOD FOR FABRICATING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE WITH TEST PADMay 2022June 2023Allow1310NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner MENZ, LAURA MARY.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
13
Examiner Affirmed
8
(61.5%)
Examiner Reversed
5
(38.5%)
Reversal Percentile
59.2%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 38.5% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is above the USPTO average, indicating that appeals have better success here than typical.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
98
Allowed After Appeal Filing
50
(51.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
48
(49.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
82.9%
Higher than average

Understanding Appeal Filing Strategy

Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.

In this dataset, 51.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is particularly effective here. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB show good success rates. If you have a strong case on the merits, consider fully prosecuting the appeal to a Board decision.

Filing a Notice of Appeal is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Examiner MENZ, LAURA MARY - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner MENZ, LAURA MARY works in Art Unit 2813 and has examined 1,871 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 90.0%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 24 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner MENZ, LAURA MARY's allowance rate of 90.0% places them in the 70% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by MENZ, LAURA MARY receive 1.09 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 16% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues significantly fewer office actions than most examiners.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by MENZ, LAURA MARY is 24 months. This places the examiner in the 72% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +2.0% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by MENZ, LAURA MARY. This interview benefit is in the 19% percentile among all examiners. Note: Interviews show limited statistical benefit with this examiner compared to others, though they may still be valuable for clarifying issues.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 36.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 80% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. If you receive a final rejection, filing an RCE with substantive amendments or arguments has a strong likelihood of success.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 28.5% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 32% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows below-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. You may need to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 113.5% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 79% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. Before filing a full appeal brief, strongly consider requesting a PAC. The PAC provides an opportunity for the examiner and supervisory personnel to reconsider the rejection before the case proceeds to the PTAB.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 86.9% of appeals filed. This is in the 78% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 52.3% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1207.01, all appeals must go through a mandatory appeal conference. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration even before you file an Appeal Brief.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 36.4% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 32% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show below-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 13.1% of allowed cases (in the 97% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 11.8% of allowed cases (in the 89% percentile). Per MPEP § 714.14, a Quayle action indicates that all claims are allowable but formal matters remain. This examiner frequently uses Quayle actions compared to other examiners, which is a positive indicator that once substantive issues are resolved, allowance follows quickly.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:

  • RCEs are effective: This examiner has a high allowance rate after RCE compared to others. If you receive a final rejection and have substantive amendments or arguments, an RCE is likely to be successful.
  • Request pre-appeal conferences: PACs are highly effective with this examiner. Before filing a full appeal brief, request a PAC to potentially resolve issues without full PTAB review.
  • Appeal filing as negotiation tool: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.
  • Examiner cooperation: This examiner frequently makes examiner's amendments to place applications in condition for allowance. If you are close to allowance, the examiner may help finalize the claims.

Relevant MPEP Sections for Prosecution Strategy

  • MPEP § 713.10: Examiner interviews - available before Notice of Allowance or transfer to PTAB
  • MPEP § 714.12: After-final amendments - may be entered "under justifiable circumstances"
  • MPEP § 1002.02(c): Petitionable matters to Technology Center Director
  • MPEP § 1004: Actions requiring primary examiner signature (allowances, final rejections, examiner's answers)
  • MPEP § 1207.01: Appeal conferences - mandatory for all appeals
  • MPEP § 1214.07: Reopening prosecution after appeal

Important Disclaimer

Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.

No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.

Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.

Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.