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 Amendment
Applicant amended claim 1 and added new claims 14-16; claims 8-13 remain withdrawn and claims 2-4 remain cancelled. Claims 1, and 5-16 are pending with claims 1, 5-7, and 14-16 being considered in the present Office action.
The rejections of the claims are withdrawn. However, upon further consideration a new ground of rejection is necessitated by amendment including a reinterpretation of the art (Kim).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claim(s) have been considered but are moot in light of the reinterpretation of Kim and additional references (e.g., Hoffman, Christ) in combination therewith.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claim(s) 1, 5, 7, and 14-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (KR 10-20200015207) in view Hoffman et al. (WO 1999005743), Kitagawa (JP 2006-286357), Song (CN109037848), and Christ et al. (DE 102018005234), hereinafter Kim, Hoffman, Kitagawa, Song and Christ.
Regarding Claims 1, 7, and 14-15, Kim suggests a battery module (1, see Fig. 6) comprising: a battery cell stack that is formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells (110, see e.g., Fig. 6), wherein each cell of the plurality comprises an electrode assembly (111) and a cell case (130) for housing the assembly (see e.g., [0014, 0057], Fig. 4); wherein mutually adjacent cells in the stack have a structure such that each cell case faces each other (see e.g., Figs. 3, 5 and 6). Further, Kim suggests the module (1) includes a cover (230, 240) that covers end parts of the battery cell stack (see Fig. 2), and an adhesive member (50) that is disposed on an upper surface of the battery cell stack (see Fig. 6),
Kim does not suggest the cover is insulating. However, Kitagawa suggests the cover (i.e., 34(61) and 63(61)) that covers end parts of the battery stack (see e.g., Fig. 2) is formed of non-conductive resin to preventing shorts, thereby improving safety, [0016-0017, 0032, 0039, 0045]. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the cover of Kim is an insulating cover to prevent shorts, thereby improving safety.
Kim shows the adhesive member (50) extends across the entire surface of the stack and a thermally conductive material (40) on a first surface of the adhesive member facing the stack of cells aids in the heat dissipation ([0082-0091]), but does not suggest an adsorption complementary layer formed on a second surface of the adhesive member (50) opposite the first surface, wherein the adsorption complementary layer is formed of a porous polymer material and the porous polymer material forms an exterior surface of the battery module. However, Song suggests an adhesive member (2) includes adhesive material (1, thermally/heat conductive layer) formed on a first surface of the adhesive member (2) extending across the entire surface of the member (2), and an adsorption complementary layer (3) formed on a second surface of the adhesive member (2) opposite the first surface, wherein the adsorption complementary layer (3) is formed of a porous polymer material (e.g., polyurethane foam, foamed rubber, foamed polyethylene, etc.), see e.g., [0035] and Fig; Song suggests the aforementioned structure offers improved heat dissipation efficiency and capacity, [0021-0022]. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the adhesive member of Kim includes an adhesive material (i.e., thermally conductive material) on a first surface of the adhesive member (50) facing the battery cell stack, wherein the adhesive material extends across the entire surface of the adhesive member, and an adsorption complementary layer formed on a second surface of the adhesive member (50) opposite the first surface, wherein the adsorption complementary layer is formed of a porous polymer material, with the expectation of improved heat dissipation and capacity, as suggested by Song. The modification Kim with Song to include an adhesive material extending across the entire first surface of the adhesive member (50), and an adsorption complementary layer formed of a porous polymer material extending across a second surface, opposite the first surface, suggests an adhesive material formed on a first surface of the adhesive member facing the battery cell stack, the adhesive member extends across the plurality of battery cells, and an adsorption complementary layer formed on a second surface of the adhesive member opposite the first surface, wherein the adsorption complementary layer is formed of a porous polymer material and the porous polymer material forms an exterior surface of the battery module; the modification is obvious from the standpoint of improved heat dissipation and capacity, as suggested by Song.
Kim suggests a holding member (400b) comprising contact frames (410b) which wrap around the entire stack of the plurality of cells, thereby holding the cells in position, [0075-0076] and Fig. 5b; thus, Kim suggest a holding member that wraps the end parts of the battery cell stack and the holding member completely encircles the battery cell stack. Hoffman suggests holding members (e.g., 178, 178, Fig. 15) that wrap around the entire circumference of the stack at the end parts of the battery cell stack maintain a stack of cells having a prismatic configuration in a state of compression within a module housing or containment vessel, thereby evenly distributing pressure throughout the cell stack, see e.g., page 21/69. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the holding member contacts each side surface of the stack with the expectation maintaining a stack of cells having a prismatic configuration in a state of compression within a housing such that pressure is distributed fairly evenly throughout the cell stack, as suggested by Kim and Hoffman.
As detailed above Kim and Hoffman suggest the holding member located on each surface of the cell stack to maintain the stack itself and to maintain compression of the cells such that pressure is distributed fairly evenly throughout the cell stack. Kim also suggests the adhesive member on top of the stack. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the holding member is between the cell stack and the adhesive member with the expectation of maintaining the cells in the stack as the cells are placed/assembled on/with the adhesive member.
Kim does not suggest a top surface of the battery cell stack is non-planar and a bottom surface of the adhesive member conforms to the top surface of the battery cell stack. However, Christ suggests the height of the plurality of batteries are offset due to manufacturing and installation/production tolerances, forming a nonplanar top surface of the battery cell stack, see e.g., [0006, 0017] and Figure 1; to ensure efficient thermal contact (hence heat transfer) with the cooler (18) despite the offset, thermal paste is applied such that it conforms to the nonplanar top surface of the battery cell stack, hence itself is not planar [0002, 0015]. In other words, the placement of the thermal paste in the step part ensures the advantages of the thermal paste (e.g., heat transfer) for all the cells equally and efficiently. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art a top surface of the cell stack is nonplanar due to the expected tolerances resulting from the manufacturing and installation/production process, as suggested by Christ. Further, it would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the adhesive member conforms to the top surface of the cell stack, hence is not planar, to ensure the advantages of the adhesive member (e.g., bonding, absorption of vibration, equal and efficient heat transfer) are realized for all the cells of the stack, as suggested by Christ.
Regarding Claim 5, Kim does not suggest the upper surface of the battery cell stack forms a step part, and the adhesive member is formed along the step part. However, Christ suggests the height of the plurality of batteries are offset due to manufacturing and installation/production tolerances, forming a step part on the upper surface of the battery cell stack, see e.g., [0006, 0017] and Figure 1; to ensure efficient thermal contact (hence heat transfer) with the cooler (18) despite the offset, thermal paste is applied along the step part, [0002, 0015]. In other words, the placement of the thermal paste in the step part ensures the advantages of the thermal paste (e.g., heat transfer) for all the cells equally and efficiently. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the upper surface of the cell stack includes a step part due to the expected tolerances resulting from the manufacturing and installation/production process, as suggested by Christ. Further, it would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the adhesive member is formed along the step to ensure the advantages of the adhesive member (e.g., bonding, absorption of vibration) are realized for all the cells of the stack, as suggested by Christ.
Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Hoffman, Kitagawa, Song and Christ in view of Sekino et al. (EP 2530763, of record), hereinafter Sekino.
Regarding Claim 6, Kim does not suggest an adhesive tape that is disposed between mutually adjacent battery cells included in the battery cell stack. However, Sekino suggests adhesive tape (100) disposed between mutually adjacent cells in the stack, thereby increasing the strength of the assembled stack, see Figs. 8-13 and [0046]. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to include an adhesive tape between mutually adjacent cells of the stack to increase the strength of the stack, as suggested by Sekino.
Claim(s) 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim, Hoffman, Kitagawa, Song and Christ in view of Son (KR 20160034676), hereinafter Son.
Regarding Claim 16, Kim does not suggest the adhesive member does not extend past the side edge of the battery module. However, the size of the adhesive member would be a design choice of the practitioner in the art and achieves nothing more than predictable results. Son shows a plurality of cells forming a stack 30 and an adhesive member (60, 70, 80) sized only as large as the stack, hence the adhesive member does not extend past the side edge of the battery module, thereby allowing cooling of the stack, [0006-0007], Figs. 1, 7. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the adhesive member does not extend past the side edge of the battery module with the expectation of cooling the cell stack.
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.
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/ANNA KOROVINA/Examiner, Art Unit 1729
/ULA C RUDDOCK/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1729
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