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 .
Response to Arguments
This Office Action is responsive to the amendment filed on 58/18/2026. Claims 1-6, 9-16, 19-22 are pending. Applicant’s arguments have been fully considered and are not persuasive. Claims 1-6, 9-16, 19-22 are finally rejected for reasons of record reiterated herein below.
The Examiner notes that an incorrect rejection heading was cited in the previous Office Action. The proper rejection heading is recited herein below. However, the content of the rejection is proper, and is maintained.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112, 1st
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-6, 9-16, 19-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Regarding claims 1 and 11, the limitation “wherein in the first lateral part and the second lateral part, at least a side of one the first current collector and/or at least a side of one the second current collector in the outermost layer of the battery cell are coated with active substances, respectively” is not supported by the disclosure as originally filed.
Applicant refers to its instant USPGPUB [0031] and figure 1 for support. However, the instant Specification states:
[0031] In this embodiment, the first current collector 16 forms the outermost layer of the battery cell 10, Therefore, the formed opposite uncoated region is surrounded inside the first current collector 16 that is the outermost layer. In this way, the opposite uncoated region is not visible from outside the battery cell 10. Therefore, this structure may also be referred to as “hidden opposite uncoated region”.
Hence, it is noted that the outermost layer of the battery cell is not coated with active substances.
The Specification states:
[0026] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the battery cell 10 may include a first lateral part 24 and a second lateral part 26 facing each other along the width direction W. The first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 form two transverse sides of the battery cell 10. The first uncoated region 20 may include two parts located in the first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 respectively, and the second uncoated region 22 may include two parts located in the first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 respectively. In other words, the opposite uncoated region may be formed in both transverse lateral parts of the battery cell 10, thereby improving safety performance of the battery cell.
The Examiner notes the first lateral part of the first current collector 20 is uncoated.
Further, the instant Specification states:
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first current collector 16 of the battery cell 10 may form an outermost layer of the battery cell 10. In the second lateral part 26 of the battery cell 10, the second current collector 18 may further include a third uncoated region 285 located on a back side of the second uncoated region 22. In other words, in this embodiment, neither surface of the second current collector 18 located in the second lateral part 26 is coated with any active substance, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0031] In this embodiment, the first current collector 16 forms the outermost layer of the battery cell 10, Therefore, the formed opposite uncoated region is surrounded inside the first current collector 16 that is the outermost layer. In this way, the opposite uncoated region is not visible from outside the battery cell 10. Therefore, this structure may also be referred to as "hidden opposite uncoated region".
[0032] Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a symmetric structure of opposite uncoated regions at lateral sides of the outermost layer is adopted. In the first lateral part 24, the structure corresponds to a single-sided anode electrode plate and a single-sided cathode electrode plate. In the second lateral part 26, there is an outer structure of opposite uncoated regions formed by extending an end of the anode current collector 18. The extended anode current collector 18 forms two opposite uncoated regions with a single-sided cathode current collector at the second outermost layer and a cathode current collector at the outermost layer thereof, respectively. This effectively improves safety performance of the battery cell.
Paragraph [0030] states that neither surface of the second current collector at the second lateral part is not coated with any active substance.
Paragraph [0031] states that the hidden region of the outermost layer of the first current collector is uncoated.
Paragraph [0032] states that in the second later part, the anode current collector has an outer structure of opposite uncoated regions. The uncoated structure entails “a cathode current collector at the outermost layer”.
Applicant is required to cancel the new matter in reply to this Office Action.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments dated 8/18/2026 are addressed below:
Applicant asserts paragraph [0031] describes the outermost layer's external surface being free of active material - i.e., the side visible from outside the cell is uncoated, which is what renders the opposite uncoated region "hidden" and "not visible from outside." However, the claimed limitation is directed to the lateral parts (the first lateral part and the second lateral part) of the battery cell, where the structure is specifically described in paragraph [0032] as employing "a single-sided anode electrode plate and a single-sided cathode electrode plate." A person of ordinary skill in the art of lithium battery design would readily understand that a "single-sided electrode plate" means that active material is coated on only one side of the current collector, while the other side remains uncoated. Thus, in the first lateral part 24, at least one side (the inner side) of the current collector forming the outermost layer is coated with active substances exactly as the claim recites. The specification therefore byt unmistakably conveys that the inventor possessed the claims subject matter (pages 7-8 of Arguments).
Further, the instant Specification states:
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first current collector 16 of the battery cell 10 may form an outermost layer of the battery cell 10. In the second lateral part 26 of the battery cell 10, the second current collector 18 may further include a third uncoated region 285 located on a back side of the second uncoated region 22. In other words, in this embodiment, neither surface of the second current collector 18 located in the second lateral part 26 is coated with any active substance, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0031] In this embodiment, the first current collector 16 forms the outermost layer of the battery cell 10, Therefore, the formed opposite uncoated region is surrounded inside the first current collector 16 that is the outermost layer. In this way, the opposite uncoated region is not visible from outside the battery cell 10. Therefore, this structure may also be referred to as "hidden opposite uncoated region".
[0032] Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a symmetric structure of opposite uncoated regions at lateral sides of the outermost layer is adopted. In the first lateral part 24, the structure corresponds to a single-sided anode electrode plate and a single-sided cathode electrode plate. In the second lateral part 26, there is an outer structure of opposite uncoated regions formed by extending an end of the anode current collector 18. The extended anode current collector 18 forms two opposite uncoated regions with a single-sided cathode current collector at the second outermost layer and a cathode current collector at the outermost layer thereof, respectively. This effectively improves safety performance of the battery cell.
Paragraph [0030] states that neither surface of the second current collector at the second lateral part is not coated with any active substance.
Paragraph [0031] states that the hidden region of the outermost layer of the first current collector is uncoated.
Paragraph [0032] states that in the second later part, the anode current collector has an outer structure of opposite uncoated regions. The uncoated structure entails “a cathode current collector at the outermost layer”.
Further, the Specification states:
[0026] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the battery cell 10 may include a first lateral part 24 and a second lateral part 26 facing each other along the width direction W. The first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 form two transverse sides of the battery cell 10. The first uncoated region 20 may include two parts located in the first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 respectively, and the second uncoated region 22 may include two parts located in the first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 respectively. In other words, the opposite uncoated region may be formed in both transverse lateral parts of the battery cell 10, thereby improving safety performance of the battery cell.
Contrary to Applicant’s assertion, the first lateral part of the first current collector 20 is uncoated.
Applicant argues, paragraph [0032] of US publication of the present application discloses that "in the embodiment shown in FIG 1, asymmetric structure of opposite uncoated regions at lateral sides of the outermost layer is adopted. In the first lateral part 24, the structure corresponds to a single - sided anode electrode plate and a single - sided cathode electrode plate" (emphasis added). That is, one of ordinary skill in the art would reasonably understand that a single-sided anode electrode plate and a single-sided cathode electrode plate represent that one side of the anode electrode plate and one side of the cathode electrode plate are uncoated regions, and the other side of the anode electrode plate and the other side of the cathode electrode plate are coated.
In response, The Applicant’s conclusion is without merit because although paragraph [0032] states single-sided anode electrode plate and a single-sided cathode electrode plate, it does not disclose with what material it is single-sided, and what portion of the anode electrode plate and cathode electrode are “single-sided” because figure 1 shows some portions that are single-sided that are not at the outermost layer. Figure 1 further supports that the outermost layer of the first lateral portion is dingle-sided with a green adhesive 36.
In fact, the Specification states:
[0026] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the battery cell 10 may include a first lateral part 24 and a second lateral part 26 facing each other along the width direction W. The first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 form two transverse sides of the battery cell 10. The first uncoated region 20 may include two parts located in the first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 respectively, and the second uncoated region 22 may include two parts located in the first lateral part 24 and the second lateral part 26 respectively. In other words, the opposite uncoated region may be formed in both transverse lateral parts of the battery cell 10, thereby improving safety performance of the battery cell.
Contrary to Applicant’s assertion, the first lateral part of the first current collector 20 is uncoated.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CYNTHIA KYUNG SOO WALLS whose telephone number is (571)272-8699. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F until 5pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jonathan Leong can be reached at 571-270-1292. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CYNTHIA K WALLS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1751
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