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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed 2/19/2026 with respect to the rejection of claim 16 under 35 U.S.C 112 have been fully considered. The rejection of claim 16 under 35 U.S.C 112 has been withdrawn due to amendments.
Applicant's arguments filed 2/19/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that the system of Coe utilizes the resonant frequency related to the charge acceptance of the whole battery pack as opposed to individual target cells and therefore the combination of Podrazhansky in view of Coe does not anticipate the claims.
Examiner respectfully disagrees, based on Col 5 Lines 19-27 of Podrazhansky: “The present invention determines the State of charge of each cell. The adjustment to the rate of charging may be made on an individual cell basis, that is, tailored to each cell. The adjustment to the rate of charging may also be made on a “worst case' or a “best case” cell basis, depending upon which charge cycle parameters have been selected for adjustment. The adjustment to the charge cycle parameters may also be made for all cells while further adjustments are made for specific cells.”
The citation above makes it clear that a single cell can be targeted, which when combined with the harmonic resonant frequencies of Coe, anticipates the claimed invention.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Podrazhansky et al. (US 5889385 A), hereinafter “Pod”, in view of Coe et al. (US 20100201320 A1).
Regarding Claim 1, Pod teaches a method (Figs. 3A-3B) for charging an electrochemical device comprising:
determining a relative charge value for each of the plurality of electrochemical cells (305); and controlling, based on the relative charge value for each of the plurality of electrochemical cells, an energy signal at an electrode of the electrochemical pack, the energy signal shaped by a shaping circuit.
Pod does not teach accessing a plurality of harmonic profiles that each indicate a relationship between at least one harmonic and an impedance of each of a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in an electrochemical pack;
the energy signal shaped by a shaping circuit to include a harmonic component associated with a target impedance value corresponding toa target electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells, the harmonic component causing target absorption of the energy signal by the target electrochemical cell as compared to the remaining electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells,
wherein the target impedance value associated with the harmonic is obtained from a harmonic profile of the plurality of harmonic profiles associated with the target electrochemical cell.
Coe teaches accessing a plurality of harmonic profiles that each indicate a relationship between at least one harmonic and an impedance of each of a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in an electrochemical pack (Fig. 7B, ¶[18] “FIG. 7B is a graph plot showing a dynamic internal impedance of the battery pack versus frequency at multiple charge current levels”, see also ¶[35] “The control module 106 identifies the resonant charge frequency or frequencies 701-704, f.sub.opt, at which dV/dt and/or the dynamic internal impedance are the smallest for each of the applied current levels … In some implementations, f.sub.opt includes harmonics of the resonant charge frequencies”);
the energy signal shaped by a shaping circuit to include a harmonic component associated with a target impedance value corresponding to a target electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells (¶[31] “The charge/discharge system 100 may be used to maximize the charge efficiency of the battery pack 200 by applying a charging profile that optimizes charge acceptance, e.g., by applying a profile including a pulse charge at the resonant charge frequency”),
wherein the target impedance value associated with the harmonic is obtained from a harmonic profile of the plurality of harmonic profiles associated with the target electrochemical cell (Fig. 7B, ¶[34] “In some implementations, the control module 106 may calculate the dynamic internal impedance of the batteries at various pulse frequencies based on a predetermined frequency resolution”).
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pod to incorporate the teachings of Coe to provide accessing a plurality of harmonic profiles that each indicate a relationship between at least one harmonic and an impedance of each of a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in an electrochemical pack;
the energy signal shaped by a shaping circuit to include a harmonic component associated with a target impedance value corresponding to a target electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein the target impedance value associated with the harmonic is obtained from a harmonic profile of the plurality of harmonic profiles associated with the target electrochemical cell;
in order to increase the efficiency of the charge/discharge device by choosing frequencies that will maximize charge acceptance, as suggested by Coe (¶[31]).
The combination of Pod and Coe teaches the harmonic component causing target absorption of the energy signal by the target electrochemical cell as compared to the remaining electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells, ([Col 5 Lines 20-21 of Pod] “The adjustment to the rate of charging may be made on an individual cell basis, that is, tailored to each cell” in view of ¶[33] of Coe “The measure of dV/dt provides an indicator of the battery pack charge acceptance and is inversely related such that the frequency or frequencies at which dV/dt is smallest (i.e., the "resonant charge frequencies") are the same frequencies at which charge acceptance is highest”),
Regarding Claim 2, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 1.
Pod further teaches wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrochemical cells are connected in a series connection (see Fig. 1).
Regarding Claim 3, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 1.
Pod further teaches wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrochemical cells are connected in a parallel connection ([Col 2 Lines 8-10] “Likewise, batteries may be connected in series and/or in parallel, as needed to obtain the desired output voltage and energy storage capacity.”).
Regarding Claim 4, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 1.
Pod further teaches wherein the energy signal comprises one of a charge current, a discharge current, a charge voltage, a discharge voltage, a charge power, or a discharge power (signal provided by charging circuit 30 [Col 6 Lines 36-39] “The charging circuit 30 may be any charging circuit which can provide a charging pulse which has an adjustable amplitude or an adjustable duration, and preferably both”).
Regarding Claim 5, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 1.
Pod further teaches wherein the target electrochemical cell is directly connected to the electrode of the electrochemical pack (the target cell may be C1 or CN (see Fig. 1) which are at the ends of the battery pack [Col 8 Lines 29-43] “That is, controller 14 measures the voltage across each cell to determine the state of charge and condition of each cell and then adjusts the charging process so as to properly charge that cell … the full 100 amps of charging current is provided to another cell which is undercharged and needs the full 100 amps to properly charge”).
Regarding Claim 6, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 1.
Pod further teaches wherein at least one other electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells is connected between the target electrochemical cell and the electrode of the electrochemical pack (the target cell may be C2 (see Fig. 1) which is in the middle of the battery pack [Col 8 Lines 29-43] “That is, controller 14 measures the voltage across each cell to determine the state of charge and condition of each cell and then adjusts the charging process so as to properly charge that cell … the full 100 amps of charging current is provided to another cell which is undercharged and needs the full 100 amps to properly charge”)..
Regarding Claim 7, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 1.
Pod further teaches wherein a portion of the energy signal is absorbed by the target electrochemical cell to increase the relative charge value of the target electrochemical cell ([Col 13 Lines 43-46] “the charge pulse current may be increased to more quickly charge lesser charged cells, while more of the charge pulse current may be shunted around cells which are more fully charged”).
Coe further teaches energy signal based on the harmonic associated with the target impedance value (¶[31] “The charge/discharge system 100 may be used to maximize the charge efficiency of the battery pack 200 by applying a charging profile that optimizes charge acceptance, e.g., by applying a profile including a pulse charge at the resonant charge frequency”).
Regarding Claim 8, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 1.
Pod further teaches wherein a portion of the energy signal is absorbed by the target electrochemical cell to decrease the relative charge value of the target electrochemical cell ([Col 15 Lines 19-25] “In step 320 the charge cycle parameters are adjusted to decrease the charging rate, such as by … increasing the amplitude, duration or number of depolarization pulses, either for the battery as a whole and/or for that cell”).
Coe further teaches energy signal based on the harmonic associated with the target impedance value (¶[31] “The charge/discharge system 100 may be used to maximize the charge efficiency of the battery pack 200 by applying a charging profile that optimizes charge acceptance, e.g., by applying a profile including a pulse charge at the resonant charge frequency”).
Regarding Claim 9, The method of claim 1,
Pod further teaches wherein controlling the energy signal balances the relative charge values of the plurality of electrochemical cells of the electrochemical device ([Col 10 Lines 32-35] “Once the state of charge of a cell is known, then action can be taken to equalize the state of charge and the ability of that cell to accept current with the state of charge of the other cells”).
Regarding Claim 10, Pod teaches a battery pack charging system (Fig. 1) comprising:
a charge signal shaping circuit (30, [Col 6 Lines 36-39] “The charging circuit 30 may be any charging circuit which can provide a charging pulse which has an adjustable amplitude or an adjustable duration, and preferably both”) in communication with an electrochemical pack (B) comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells (C1-CN);
and a controller (14) to:
determine a relative charge value for each of the plurality of electrochemical cells ([Col 6 Lines 25-27] “Modules 12A-12N also have cell voltage output lines V1A-VNA and V1B-VNB to allow controller 14 to determine the voltage across each cell C”, see also step 305 in Fig. 3A);
identify, based on the relative charge value for each of the plurality of electrochemical cells, a target electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells ([Col 8 Lines 30-34] “controller 14 measures the voltage across each cell to determine the state of charge and condition of each cell and then adjusts the charging process so as to properly charge that cell”);
Pod does not teach an impedance measurement circuit in communication with the electrochemical pack to obtain an impedance measurement of each of plurality of electrochemical cells;
and a controller configured to control the charge signal shaping circuit to shape a charge signal for the target electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to include a harmonic component associated with a target impedance value corresponding to the target electrochemical cell, the harmonic component causing target absorption of the energy signal by the target electrochemical cell as compared to the remaining electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells.
Coe teaches an impedance measurement circuit in communication with the electrochemical pack to obtain an impedance measurement of each of plurality of electrochemical cells (¶[43] “The control module 106 may also calculate the dynamic internal impedance of the battery pack 200 at various pulse frequencies based on a predetermined frequency resolution”);
and a controller (106) configured to control the charge signal shaping circuit to shape a charge signal for the target electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to include a harmonic component associated with a target impedance value corresponding to the target electrochemical cell (¶[35] “The control module 106 identifies the resonant charge frequency or frequencies … at which … the dynamic internal impedance are the smallest for each of the applied current levels 705-707. The control module 106 then uses this information to configure the charge/discharge module 102 to generate a charge profile corresponding to the optimal frequency or frequencies for the desired current level … In some implementations, f.sub.opt includes harmonics of the resonant charge frequencies”).
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pod to incorporate the teachings of Coe to provide an impedance measurement circuit in communication with the electrochemical pack to obtain an impedance measurement of each of plurality of electrochemical cells;
and a controller configured to control the charge signal shaping circuit to shape a charge signal for the target electrochemical cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells to include a harmonic component associated with a target impedance value corresponding to the target electrochemical cell,
in order to increase the efficiency of the charge/discharge device by choosing frequencies that will maximize charge acceptance, as suggested by Coe (¶[31]).
The combination of Pod and Coe teaches the harmonic component causing target absorption of the energy signal by the target electrochemical cell as compared to the remaining electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells, ([Col 5 Lines 20-21 of Pod] “The adjustment to the rate of charging may be made on an individual cell basis, that is, tailored to each cell” in view of ¶[33] of Coe “The measure of dV/dt provides an indicator of the battery pack charge acceptance and is inversely related such that the frequency or frequencies at which dV/dt is smallest (i.e., the "resonant charge frequencies") are the same frequencies at which charge acceptance is highest”),
Regarding Claim 11, Pod in view of Coe teaches the battery pack charging system of claim 10.
wherein the harmonic is associated with a target real impedance value of the electrochemical device (see Fig, 7B, ‘Z’ represents the total combined impedance value which inherently includes a real value).
Regarding Claim 12, Pod in view of Coe teaches the battery pack charging system of claim 10.
wherein the harmonic is associated with a target imaginary impedance value of the electrochemical device (see Fig, 7B, ‘Z’ represents the total combined impedance value which inherently includes an imaginary value).
Regarding Claim 13, Pod in view of Coe teaches the battery pack charging system of claim 10.
Coe further teaches wherein the harmonic is associated with a combination of a real impedance value and an imaginary impedance value of the electrochemical device (see Fig, 7B, ‘Z’ represents the total combined impedance value).
Regarding Claim 14, Pod in view of Coe teaches the battery pack charging system of claim 10.
Coe further teaches wherein the harmonic is associated with a reactance of the electrochemical device (see Fig, 7B, ‘Z’ represents the total combined impedance value which includes the reactance (imaginary value)).
Regarding Claim 15, Pod in view of Coe teaches the battery pack charging system of claim 10.
Pod further teaches wherein a portion of the charge signal is absorbed by the target electrochemical cell to increase the relative charge value of the target electrochemical cell ([Col 13 Lines 43-46] “the charge pulse current may be increased to more quickly charge lesser charged cells, while more of the charge pulse current may be shunted around cells which are more fully charged”).
Coe further teaches the charge signal based on the harmonic associated with the target impedance value (¶[31] “The charge/discharge system 100 may be used to maximize the charge efficiency of the battery pack 200 by applying a charging profile that optimizes charge acceptance, e.g., by applying a profile including a pulse charge at the resonant charge frequency”).
Regarding Claim 16, Pod in view of Coe teaches the battery pack charging system of claim 10.
Pod further teaches wherein a portion of the charge signal is absorbed by the target electrochemical cell to decrease the relative charge value of the target electrochemical cell ([Col 15 Lines 19-25] “In step 320 the charge cycle parameters are adjusted to decrease the charging rate, such as by … increasing the amplitude, duration or number of depolarization pulses, either for the battery as a whole and/or for that cell”).
Coe further teaches energy signal based on the harmonic associated with the target impedance value (¶[31] “The charge/discharge system 100 may be used to maximize the charge efficiency of the battery pack 200 by applying a charging profile that optimizes charge acceptance, e.g., by applying a profile including a pulse charge at the resonant charge frequency”).
Regarding Claim 17, Pod in view of Coe teaches the battery pack charging system of claim 10.
Pod as modified does not explicitly teach the battery pack charging system further comprises a power source providing a power signal and
wherein controlling the charge signal shaping circuit comprises siphoning energy from the power signal to provide the charge signal.
Coe teaches the battery pack charging system (Fig. 1) further comprises a power source providing a power signal (¶[27] “The charge/discharge module 102 includes a bidirectional programmable D.C. power supply”) and
wherein controlling the charge signal shaping circuit (102) comprises siphoning energy from the power signal to provide the charge signal (¶[27] “The charge/discharge module 102 is capable of generating charge profiles having simple and complex current waveforms superimposed on a variable base current”)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pod to incorporate the teachings of Coe to provide the battery pack charging system further comprises a power source providing a power signal and
wherein controlling the charge signal shaping circuit comprises siphoning energy from the power signal to provide the charge signal;
in order to provide a source for the varying charge signals.
Regarding Claim 18, Pod teaches a method (Figs. 3A-3B) for balance charging of a battery pack (B), the method comprising:
an indication of a charge of a first cell of a plurality of electrochemical cells being less than an indication of a charge of a second cell (C1 in the following example) of the plurality of electrochemical cells ([Col 8 Lines 28-43] “the equalization process is performed simultaneously with and as part of the charging process. That is, controller 14 measures the voltage across each cell to determine the state of charge and condition of each cell and then adjusts the charging process so as to properly charge that cell … Thus, overcharging of and damage to cell C1 is prevented, but the full 100 amps of charging current is provided to another cell which is undercharged and needs the full 100 amps to properly charge”);
and shaping a charge signal for the plurality of electrochemical cells, the charge signal to charge the first cell (see [Col 8 Lines 28-43] quoted above, and [Col 6 Lines 36-39] “The charging circuit 30 may be any charging circuit which can provide a charging pulse which has an adjustable amplitude or an adjustable duration, and preferably both”).
Pod does not teach obtaining a target impedance value of the first cell;
and shaping a charge signal for the plurality of electrochemical cells to include a harmonic component corresponding to the target impedance value of the first cell,
Coe teaches obtaining a target impedance value of the first cell (¶[34] “the control module 106 may calculate the dynamic internal impedance of the batteries at various pulse frequencies based on a predetermined frequency resolution”);
and shaping a charge signal for the plurality of electrochemical cells to include a harmonic component corresponding to the target impedance value of the first cell, (¶[35] “The control module 106 identifies the resonant charge frequency or frequencies … at which … the dynamic internal impedance are the smallest for each of the applied current levels 705-707. The control module 106 then uses this information to configure the charge/discharge module 102 to generate a charge profile corresponding to the optimal frequency or frequencies for the desired current level … In some implementations, f.sub.opt includes harmonics of the resonant charge frequencies”).
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pod to incorporate the teachings of Coe to provide obtaining a target impedance value of the first cell;
and shaping a charge signal for the plurality of electrochemical cells to include a harmonic component corresponding to the target impedance value of the first cell,;
in order to increase the efficiency of the charge/discharge device by choosing frequencies that will maximize charge acceptance, as suggested by Coe (¶[31]).
The combination of Pod and Coe teaches the harmonic component causing target absorption of the energy signal by the target electrochemical cell as compared to the remaining electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells, ([Col 5 Lines 20-21 of Pod] “The adjustment to the rate of charging may be made on an individual cell basis, that is, tailored to each cell” in view of ¶[33] of Coe “The measure of dV/dt provides an indicator of the battery pack charge acceptance and is inversely related such that the frequency or frequencies at which dV/dt is smallest (i.e., the "resonant charge frequencies") are the same frequencies at which charge acceptance is highest”),
Regarding Claim 19, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 18.
Pod further teaches an indication of a charge of a third cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells being more than an indication of a charge of a fourth cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells ([Col 5 Lines 8-11] “If the voltage difference is greater than the threshold voltage then the cell is being charged too rapidly, or is being overcharged, so the rate of charging is adjusted”)
and shaping a charge signal for the plurality of electrochemical cells, the discharge signal to charge the first cell ([Col 15 Lines 19-25] “In step 320 the charge cycle parameters are adjusted to decrease the charging rate, such as by … increasing the amplitude, duration or number of depolarization pulses, either for the battery as a whole and/or for that cell”).
Coe teaches obtaining a target impedance value of the third cell (¶[34] “the control module 106 may calculate the dynamic internal impedance of the batteries at various pulse frequencies based on a predetermined frequency resolution”);
and shaping a charge signal for the plurality of electrochemical cells to include a harmonic associated with the target impedance value of the third cell, the charge signal to discharge the third cell (¶[35] “The control module 106 identifies the resonant charge frequency or frequencies … at which … the dynamic internal impedance are the smallest for each of the applied current levels 705-707. The control module 106 then uses this information to configure the charge/discharge module 102 to generate a charge profile corresponding to the optimal frequency or frequencies for the desired current level”).
Regarding Claim 20, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 18.
Pod further teaches wherein the first cell and the second cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells are connected in a series connection (see Fig. 1).
Regarding Claim 21, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 18.
Pod further teaches wherein the first cell and the second cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells are connected in a parallel connection ([Col 2 Lines 8-10] “Likewise, batteries may be connected in series and/or in parallel, as needed to obtain the desired output voltage and energy storage capacity”).
Although the embodiment relied upon for claim 18 shows cells connected in series, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to connect the cells in parallel to increase the capacity, as acknowledged by Pod in the quote cited above.
Regarding Claim 22, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 18.
Coe further teaches wherein shaping the charge signal comprises:
controlling a charge signal shaping circuit to shape the charge signal to include the harmonic associated with the target impedance value of the first cell (¶[31] “The charge/discharge system 100 may be used to maximize the charge efficiency of the battery pack 200 by applying a charging profile that optimizes charge acceptance, e.g., by applying a profile including a pulse charge at the resonant charge frequency”).
Regarding Claim 23, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 18.
Coe further teaches wherein the harmonic is associated with a reactance of the first cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells (see Fig, 7B, ‘Z’ represents the total combined impedance value which includes the reactance (imaginary value)).
Regarding Claim 24, Pod in view of Coe teaches the method of claim 18.
Pod further teaches wherein the indication of the charge of the first cell of the plurality of electrochemical cells corresponds to a measured voltage potential across the first cell ([Col 7 Lines 41-42] “Controller 14 preferably monitors the open circuit voltage of each cell C”).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 AIMAN BICKIYA whose telephone number is (571)270-0555. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 - 6 PM EST.
Examiner interviews are 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.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Julian Huffman can be reached at 571-272-2147. 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 https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/A.B./Examiner, Art Unit 2859
/JULIAN D HUFFMAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2859
Prosecution Insights